The Council of the IMA is delighted to announce that Katerina Kaouri has been awarded the IMA Hedy Lamarr Prize for Knowledge Exchange in Mathematics and its Applications.
Established in 2020, the Hedy Lamarr Prize is awarded biennially to a mathematician who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the exchange of mathematical knowledge and its applications. Named in honour of the pioneering inventor and mathematician Hedy Lamarr, the prize recognises excellence in bringing mathematics to wider communities and forging impactful collaborations beyond academia.
The citation for the 2025 award to Katerina Kaouri follows;
Katerina Kaouri is a leading academic tackling industrial and biomedical challenges through mathematical modelling. She is a Reader in Applied Mathematics and the Director for Impact and Engagement at the School of Mathematics, Cardiff University. Katerina excels at fostering academia-industry collaborations and identifying synergies, with impact both in the UK and Cyprus.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Katerina led research that informed policy decisions, contributing to the Welsh Government’s Technical Advisory Group. Katerina secured a Sêr Cymru grant from the Welsh Government and co-led the creation of the AIRVICA web app to model viral infection risk in indoor spaces. She continues to inform policy and working on epidemic preparedness; with UKRI Impact Acceleration Account funding, she co-developed the Virtual Infection Risk Indoor Simulator (VIRIS), an agent-based model and web app that integrates infection risk, people movement, and architecture. VIRIS has significant applications for policymakers, architects, and the public, and was recently shortlisted for the GW4 Open Research Prize.
A standout example of Katerina’s expertise is her leadership in organising two European Study Groups with Industry, in her home country Cyprus in 2016 and 2018. In this connection, she identified several industrial and societal challenges ranging from managing water resources to improving bus routes and breaking barriers for women in science. These week-long workshops, which engaged more than 65 mathematical scientists, from across Europe and the UK, led to follow-on projects, such as MSc projects, Impact Acceleration Account funding, and support for postdoctoral researchers. These collaborations not only delivered real-world impact but also strengthened long-term ties with industry and society.
Initiating a culture of industrial mathematics and innovation in Cyprus is just one example of how Katerina has played a significant leadership role in championing knowledge exchange. Katerina’s commitment to KE is also reflected in her activities in the UK and beyond. In Cardiff, she led the organisation of major events like the Mathematics for Industry Day and Maths Adventures Day, strengthening industry partnerships and engaging the public with mathematics. As departmental Director for Impact and Engagement since 2021, she also chairs the Industrial Advisory Board, further enhancing industry-academia connections. A dedicated science communicator, Katerina, has delivered popular talks, including a TEDx talk and a TED-Ed animation with over 5 million views. She co-founded the Mediterranean Science Festival and the non-profit SciCo Cyprus and served as Vice President of the Parallel Parliament for Research, Innovation, and Digital Governance in Cyprus. She was nominated Woman of the Year in “Innovation” in 2021.
On a national and international level, Katerina has shaped KE in mathematical sciences through her roles on the Council of the European Consortium for Mathematics in Industry, the Newton Gateway Scientific Advisory Panel, the EU Mathematics for Industry Network (MI-NET) and as a KE Champion in the UK KE
Hub for Mathematical Sciences. She has also worked within the EU SciShops.eu project, addressing pressing societal challenges.
Katerina’s own research embodies the true spirit of mathematical sciences knowledge exchange, best exemplified by the range of sectors – policy, medicine, and industry – that her work impacts upon. In the biomedical field, Katerina co-leads the GW4 interdisciplinary network Fertility: In Vitro, In Silico, In Clinico (inFer), using collaboration to improve IVF success rates. This initiative bridges mathematics, experimental biology, and clinical practice, demonstrating the impact of mathematical thinking on medical advancements.
The Hedy Lamarr prize presents a unique and impactful opportunity to raise awareness of the importance and relevance of the mathematical sciences work that Katerina is championing at Cardiff University and beyond, as well as to recognise her sustained, proactive, and tireless contribution to leadership in mathematical sciences knowledge exchange, through her research projects, strategic partnerships, innovation activities, and science communication.
