The professor from the Department of Mathematical Engineering and researcher at the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CMM) FCFM, Patricio Felmer was awarded the National Sciences Award 2011 for his significant contributions to science and mathematics education in Chile.
“I knew that today is going to be the election day, I was a little nervous but continued with my routine until 10 AM when on my way to the School, the Minister called me saying I was awarded the National Science Award. The first thing I did was calling my wife and my children to tell them about the good news, because this is something that I owe them too,” said Felmer.
After his meeting with the Minister of Education, Felipe Bulnes, Prof. Felmer addressed Beauchef 850, where he was received by authorities, academics, and students who expressed their joy and satisfaction of the choice made by the Government.
“The work carried out by Professor Felmer has two dominant axis and converging on one hand to pure research, through the abundant production of insight, almost virtuous, full of talent that describes the best and, on the other hand, to a sensitivity social immerses in multiple activities and the generation of material that sets standards in teacher training, ” said the Dean of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Francisco Brieva.
Juan Asenjo, president of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, was one of the five judges that decided the award. As he said, this year the candidates were very strong, especially in the area of mathematics and astronomy, but it quickly reached a consensus choosing Patricio Felmer. “Without any doubt, this nomination is well deserved; this is a prize to the work done by a person in which one of the variables is the scientific value from the international point of view, where Felmer is quite remarkable. Moreover his contribution to the country is valued, and in this regard, Patricio had a clear difference because of his significant contribution to education.”
His contribution
His research focuses on partial differential equations, nonlinear: Hamiltonian systems, elliptic equations and systems. He has 83 international papers. He has participated in various organizations such as the Mathematical Society of Chile, the Chilean Academy of Sciences and the international mathematical community, as well as being part of various University committees
In recent years he has made notable contributions in the area of education where he has directed projects such as “Tools for the Training of Math Teacher”, collection, unprecedented in Chile, developed with the aim of strengthening the discipline and training of future teachers of Secondary Education in Mathematics, with special attention to their needs.
Since the beginning of this award in 1969, academics from the Faculty who have received are: Igor Saavedra (1981), Enrique Tirapegui (1991), Servet Martinez (1993), Maria Teresa Ruiz (1997), José Maza (1999 ), Andrés Weintraub (2000), Fernando Lund (2001), Carlos Conca (2003), Juan Asenjo (2004) and Edgard Kausel (2006).
The new National Sciences Award 2011 will receive a total of approximately 16 million pesos, plus a monthly annuity of 20 UTM.
Engineering community speaks
Rafael Correa, Director of the Center for Advanced Research in Education (CIAE) and researcher at the CMM
This award is a very powerful signal to the Chilean scientific community about the importance of investing huge efforts in education. I do not know another scientist at his level in the world that has done something similar. This fills us with pride as Chileans and members of the scientific comunity. This recognition is a huge incentive for Patricio to continue working as he has, as a mathematician with the same quality and putting even more emphasis on their contribution to secondary education, Elementary and Secondary education.
María Leonor Varas, academic and research CIAE-CMM
As a professor of the Faculty, students recognize him for his integral contribution, not only as a mathematician, but also for his value-based training and the opening to value very different jobs to his area because he builds bridges y develops confidence between the people. Patricio Felmer has been a pioneer in mathematics education, linking and generating networks. He has a great respect for teachers, for trainers, and everyone involved in education.
Juan Dávila, Director of the Department of Mathematical Engineering, U. de Chile
Patricio has a scientific career and a solid curriculum. One of the most cited mathematicians of Chile in his area of specialization, partial differential equations. He is also notable for his scientific productivity, through which he has been internationally recognized. He has also addressed areas such as variational methods, phenomena of concentration and fully nonlinear equations. Patricio stands for “training”, ie he directly or indirectly, attracts students, he forms them, as well as teacher guide, Ph.D. teacher, who are now outstanding professionals with careers and with their own research areas.
Jaime San Martín, Director of the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CMM), U. de Chile
Patricio Felmer is a tremendous mathematician, but also meets other conditions: he is a very important person for the mathematics education in Chile. He also has a key role in driving the CMM. I think it’s a full academic who came to maturity, the prize comes in the perfect moment.
Servet Martínez, academic and CMM researcher and National Science Award 1993
It’s a very fair award. Patricio is a very brilliant man who has given much to the country, to the science, because of the force he has placed on education in mathematics, one of the needed points for the development of Chile, to disseminate the science, having a group of mathematicians behind it, and because he is a very generous person.
