A Plus for Unifying Maths
Emeritus Professor Gregory Maxwell (Max) Kelly, 72, is modest about his Centenary Medal for services to Australian society and science in mathematics. He described it as an award for the little people.
"It is a simple award for many common people, for little people. It's not an elite award," he said yesterday from his home in Pymble. "It's for the people in the world who help here and there."
Professor Kelly helped by forming the Australian Category Theory Seminar in 1971. Category theory is a modern area of study that seeks to clarify mathematics by uniting its different theoretical streams. The seminar, run between Macquarie University and the universities of Sydney and NSW, is now one of the world's leading research centres on category theory.
"Category theory sheds light on the relations between various aspects of mathematics and in doing so it brings unity and simplicity," Mr Kelly said. "It lights the way for the next lot of advances."
He was pleased to be recognised on a list featuring sportspeople, actors and politicians.
"I am a bit surprised and rather pleased that they would take into account scientific achievements."
Scientists in many fields were among the 4491 medal recipients from NSW: Brian Doyle, from West Pymble, was recognised for his contribution to the advancement of astronomy; Leslie Field, from Lane Cove, for services to organic chemistry; Victor Flambaum, from Coogee, for atomic and nuclear physics.
Mr Kelly said it was important that scientific achievements were recognised as another form of community work.
"Some people get recognition for helping the community in various ways but scientific advancement is also important to developing our country."
"My gifts happen to be in this area. I cannot do anything special for meals on wheels, but I can in this area."
©The Sydney Morning Herald
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