In 2026, the International Mathematical Union (IMU) awarded the Fields Medal to Jacob Tsimerman, a professor of mathematics at the University of Toronto and the second Canadian to receive this honour. According to the official 2026 Fields Medal announcement, IMU recognized Tsimerman for his contribution in the recasting of o-minimality as a fundamental method of arithmetic and complex algebraic geometry, and his role in the proof of many central conjectures including Griffiths' conjecture on the algebraicity of images of the period maps, and the Andre-Oort conjecture for Siegel modular varieties.
Tsimerman’s association with the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) goes back to the early 2000s. Tsimerman was an outstanding participant in the CEMC’s mathematics contests and the CEMC invited him to participate in the June Seminar, now known as the Lloyd Auckland Invitational Mathematics (Auckland) Workshop in 2003 and 2004.
Reflecting on his association with the CEMC, Tsimerman shares, “The CEMC has done a wonderful job supporting young mathematics students for a long time, and I personally benefited greatly. I actually met some of my best friends through the Waterloo seminar, and the competitions run by the CEMC were a big part of my childhood!”
Since its inception in 1965, the Auckland workshop has fostered mathematical talent in students from across Canada by offering a series of lectures, problem-solving sessions and collaborative activities. Participants get the opportunity to interact with peers who share a passion for mathematics, enhancing both their skills and appreciation for the subject.
“We are immensely proud of Professor Tsimerman’s connection to the CEMC and the University of Waterloo through our mathematics contests and the June Seminar,” says Jen Nelson, Director, CEMC. “It is deeply rewarding to know that our contests and enrichment programs helped foster his early engagement with mathematics and introduced him to a community of like-minded peers and mentors. Congratulations, Jacob, on this remarkable achievement!”
Established in 1936, the Fields Medal named for Canadian mathematician J.C.Fields, is often described as the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics". Every four years at the International Congress of Mathematicians, IMU awards up to four medalists under the age of 40 in recognition of their exemplary work in mathematics and the promise of future achievement. Other awardees of the medal in 2026 include Yu Deng, John Pardon and Hong Wang.
Story by Lata Punetha