The future of maths is bright: TU Dublin Student Isabel Cooke Wins Hamilton Prize
Isabel Cooke, a final-year student of Industrial Mathematics at TU Dublin, has been awarded the prestigious undergraduate Hamilton Prize, which is given to the top mathematical students in their penultimate year of study.
Ibec, who sponsor the RIA prize and Hamilton Day activities, see developing STEM talent as a key role in safeguarding Ireland’s economic future.
The ceremony took place on the eve of the anniversary of famed Irish scientist William Rowan Hamilton’s discovery of quaternion algebra on 16 October 1843 on Friday, 15 October.
The 2021 Hamilton Prize winners are Isabel Cooke, Technological University Dublin; Edwina Aylward, Trinity College Dublin; Aaron Cooney, Dublin City University; Emma Herd, Queen’s University Belfast; Dan Kelly, University Limerick; Ciara Murphy, University College Dublin; Eoghan Murphy, Maynooth University; Ciara O’Keefe, University College Cork; Lijun Zou, NUI Galway.
In recognition of their mathematical excellence, the students each receive a cash prize of €250, a certificate of achievement and are invited to attend an exclusive masterclass with the 2021 Hamilton Lecture speaker Caroline Series, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick. Following the ceremony, they enjoyed a private audience with Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin in conversation with Professor Caroline Series.
Dr Mary Canning, President of the Royal Irish Academy, said,
“The Hamilton Prize recognises these outstanding young mathematicians as they enter their final year of studies in universities all around the island of Ireland. We celebrate Hamilton Day because Ireland has a rich history of scientific excellence, but through this prize, we also look to the future. In honouring their academic excellence and we hope to support and encourage the next generation of great Irish scientists.”