James Curry named a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, which recognizes those who made ‘outstanding contributions’ to the field

James Curry, professor of applied mathematics at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been named a 2022 fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), the group announced today.

SIAM fellowships are reserved for those who have made “outstanding contributions” to the fields of industrial and applied mathematics. He was cited for his "pioneering work in computational dynamics and for mentorship of young researchers, particularly in the African American community."

Curry focuses on problems at the interface of numerical methods, matrix theory and applied mathematics. He is also committed to workforce and mathematics education and the next generation of students.

During Curry’s tenure, first as associate director of the Program in Applied Mathematics and then as chair of the department, he introduced computational projects and labs into third- and fourth-semester lower division applied mathematics courses.

James Curry is a professor of applied mathematics at the University of Colorado Boulder.

“More than 1,000 students each semester now learn from hands-on interactive projects that are designed and developed by undergraduate and graduate students in applied mathematics and engineering,” Curry states.

For the past 25 years, Curry has worked with methods for solving systems of non-linear equations. “This has led to the infusion of computational tools methods and strategies in various of my own classes and classes that are central to the Department of Applied Mathematics,” he said.

Curry said he was “absolutely speechless” when he received the notice from SIAM. He said the ubiquity of the applications of mathematics and computer sciences gives students many advantages “and definitely encourages the development of critical thinking skills!”

He said applied math and computer science offer increasingly more advantages as fields such as data sciences emerge in the “complex ecosystem that is part of the future.”

To Curry, this means students should further develop their communication, computational and mathematical skills. He concluded with an exhortation: “Do more math!”

Keith Molenar, acting dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science, said Curry’s being named a SIAM fellow is “wonderful recognition of Professor Curry’s distinguished career in research, teaching, university and professional service.”

Molenar noted that SIAM is the pre-eminent professional society in the United States and world in applied mathematics, and the distinction of being named a SIAM fellow is reserved for its most highly accomplished members. “The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences is delighted to congratulate Professor Curry on this well-deserved honor.”

James W.C. White, acting dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, concurred, citing Curry’s exemplary teaching, research and service to the university. “Professor Curry has been a source of pride for the university for many years, and it is gratifying to see further recognition of his talents and deep commitment to the students.”

Curry joined the CU Boulder faculty in 1978. He earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1976 after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in math from UC-Berkeley.

Among the awards Curry has won are the Boulder Faculty Assembly Teaching Excellence Award in 1992, the Student Organization for Alumni Relations Teaching Award in 1993, and, twice, the Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Professor Award.

He was named a CU President’s Teaching Scholar in 1993 and held the J. R. Woodhull/Logicon Teaching Professorship in the College of Engineering and Applied Science from 1999-2012.

Some of the previous SIAM fellows from CU Boulder include Mark J. Ablowitz, Gregory Beylkin, Richard Byrd, Xiao-Chuan Cai and Bengt Fornberg.

Through publications, research and community, SIAM’s mission is to build cooperation between mathematics and the worlds of science and technology.