Ryan McGowan wins prestigious Hamilton Prize

Posted on: 02 March 2023

Ryan, a final year student in the School of Mathematics, has won the prestigious undergraduate Hamilton Prize as the top student in his programme at Trinity. He is one of nine winners from across the universities in Ireland to have received the award from the Royal Irish Academy (RIA).

Ryan McGowan wins prestigious Hamilton Prize

The ceremony, originally scheduled for 16 October 2022 to mark Hamilton Day, took place at the RIA on Wednesday, 1 March. Hamilton Day commemorates the anniversary of famed Irish scientist and Trinity alum William Rowan Hamilton, who discovered quaternion algebra on 16 October 1843.

Ibec, who sponsor the RIA prize and Hamilton Day activities, see developing STEM talent as a key role in safeguarding Ireland’s economic future.

In recognition of mathematical excellence, Ryan and his fellow winners each received a cash prize of €500, a certificate of achievement and attended an exclusive masterclass with 2022 Hamilton Lecture speaker, Professor Avi Wigderson of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton.

Dr Mary Canning, President of the Royal Irish Academy, said:

“The Hamilton Prize recognises these outstanding young mathematicians chosen in their penultimate 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 we hope to support and encourage the next generation of great Irish scientists. Although Hamilton Day was postponed from last year, we were very pleased to celebrate their achievements in person at a ceremony in the Academy, following their masterclass with Professor Wigderson.”

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