The President and Council of the IMA are delighted to announce that the 2026 IMA Gold Medal has been awarded to Professor Dame Celia Hoyles DBE CMath Hon FIMA and Professor Christopher Budd OBE CMath FIMA.
Institute Gold Medals are awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to mathematics and its applications over a period of years, with nominations being considered every 2 years.
Professor Dame Celia Hoyles DBE CMath Hon FIMA
Dame Celia Hoyles has made an exceptional and internationally influential contribution to mathematics education over more than five decades. Since 1973, her highly cited research has shaped understanding of students’ conceptions of proof, the mathematical skills needed in modern workplaces, and the design of computer environments that engage learners in mathematics. Her work has consistently linked research, practice and policy, delivering demonstrable benefit to education.
As Chief Adviser for Mathematics to the UK Government, she raised the national profile of mathematics and strengthened the connection between evidence and policy. Her visibility in this role inspired female mathematicians and people in maths education. As Director of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, she helped improve the teaching profession and increase progression to university mathematics. Her distinction is recognised by being the first recipient of both the ICMI Hans Freudenthal Medal and the Royal Society Kavli Education Medal.
Professor Christopher Budd OBE CMath FIMA
Professor Budd is a world-leading industrial mathematician who has a distinguished track record as a pioneer in the application of mathematical techniques to bring new insights into a wide range of real-world problems, notably weather forecasting and climate change. During the COVID-19 pandemic he co-founded the Virtual Forum for Knowledge Exchange (KE) in the Mathematical Sciences (V-KEMS), and is both a KE Hub Super Champion and Director of KE at the Institute for Mathematical Innovation (IMI) at Bath.
He wrote the standard textbook on non-smooth dynamics and is a pioneer in Scientific Machine Learning. Professor Budd is also an enthusiastic communicator of mathematics who is the long-serving Chair of Mathematics at the Royal Institution and was the Gresham Professor of Geometry. His numerous contributions have been recognised by the award of an OBE and his recent election as one of the inaugural fellows of the new Academy of Mathematical Sciences.
The Gold Medal presentation will be held at Six Park Place, London, on the 23 June 2027 – more information on this event will be announced early in 2027.
