UBC Mathematician Lauded for Education, Outreach Leadership

UBC’s Mark MacLean has been awarded the 2012 Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences Education Prize (PIMS) for his efforts in educational transformation, outreach and aboriginal engagement.

“Mark is an amazing teacher and a gifted educator,” says Alejandro Adem, PIMS director. “UBC Mathematics and the PIMS community are fortunate to be able to count on his leadership and support across a wide variety of educational matters. He’s uniquely qualified for this award.”

MacLean helped establish UBC’s integrated first-year science program–UBC Science One–and has taken leadership roles in course development, instructor supervision, tutorial centre management, and TA training. He has also chaired UBC committees on scholarships and teaching awards.

His outreach activities include leadership in the Euclid Contest and teacher professional development in aboriginal education, in collaboration with PIMS. These activities support high school teachers and students throughout the greater Vancouver area and beyond

Together with Veselin Jungic at Simon Fraser University (a previous PIMS Education Prize winner) MacLean has developed highly successful curricular material for children (including videos and texts) in the context of Aboriginal culture.

The 2012 PIMS Education Prize will be awarded during the annual Changing the Culture conference in Vancouver on May 18, 2012.