by Sarah Geegan

Two University of Kentucky professors were recently recognized for outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication and utilization of mathematics. Serge Ochanine and  Zhongwei Shen were named Fellows of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) for 2013, the program's initial year.

The AMS strives to create an enlarged class of mathematicians recognized by their peers as distinguished for their contributions to the profession and to honor excellence. This inaugural class of 1,119 Fellows represents more than 600 institutions.

"The AMS is the world's largest and most influential society dedicated to mathematical research, scholarship, and education," AMS President Eric M. Friedlander said. "Recent advances in mathematics include solutions to age-old problems and key applications useful for society. The new AMS Fellows Program recognizes some of the most accomplished mathematicians — AMS members who have contributed to our understanding of deep and important mathematical questions, to applications throughout the scientific world, and to educational excellence."

Shen said that being included in the initial class of AMS Fellows gives him a great sense of accomplishment.

"The UK math department has a very strong research group in my research areas of analysis and partial differential equations," Shen said. "The department has been supportive of my research over the years. Both of these play a huge role in my accomplishing this achievement."

Ochanine, who has been an AMS member for more than 25 years, said that he was also very honored for the recognition.

"Of course I am very pleased to be recognized by this wonderful organization that does so much to promote research in mathematics and mathematical education," Ochanine said.

A description of the Fellows program is available at  http://www.ams.org/profession/ams-fellows.