Mathematics is very present in 2024 among the personalities distinguished with the Saint George's Cross of the Government of Catalonia, one of the highest recognitions that a person or entity can receive from the Government of Catalonia.
Mathematics Pilar Bayer Isant, Marta Sanz-Solé and Carme Torras Genís, and the mathematician Claudi Alsina i Català have received this award for their contributions and careers. The Catalan Mathematical Society feels very honored to have them as members.
Claudi Alsina i Català. Professor of Mathematics. For his great work in the scientific field and his important role in educational innovation and the dissemination of mathematics. He holds a degree and a PhD in mathematics from the University of Barcelona, specializing in functional equations, inequalities, fuzzy logic, probabilistic metric spaces, Gaudí geometry, visualization of proofs without words, mathematics education, and outreach. He has published numerous articles and books and has supervised sixteen doctoral theses. Furthermore, he has always shown a strong commitment, from the academic world, to improving mathematics education, both in primary and secondary schools, and to teaching innovation.
Pilar Bayer Isant. Emeritus Professor of Algebra. For her outstanding career and contributions within the world of science and mathematics. She holds a degree and a PhD in mathematics, specializing in number theory. Her main research and publications deal with zeta functions, automorphic forms, Galois theory, and Diophantine equations. She is a highly respected voice within her field of knowledge, having participated in many events and publications, in addition to supervising fifteen doctoral theses in number theory. She is a member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona, the Royal European Academy of Doctors, as well as a member of the Institute of Catalan Studies. She is an Emmy Noether Professor at the University of Göttingen. In 2015 she was awarded the Medal of the Vives Network of Universities, and in 2022, the Medal of the Royal Spanish Mathematical Society.
Marta Sanz-Solé. Emeritus Professor of Mathematics. For her important contribution and career in the world of science and mathematics. She holds a degree and a PhD in mathematics, specializing in probability theory. Her research activity has focused on stochastic analysis, particularly stochastic differential and partial differential equations. She was Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Barcelona and President of the European Mathematical Society. She is currently an Emeritus Professor at the University of Barcelona, a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona, as well as a member of Academia Europaea and the Institute of Catalan Studies, and an Honorary Fellow of the College of Economists of Catalonia. In recognition of her work, she received the Narcís Monturiol Prize in 1999; in 2011 she was elected Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and in 2017, the Medal of the Royal Spanish Mathematical Society, among other distinctions.
Carme Torras Genís. Mathematician, computer scientist, and writer. For her great career and versatility, as one of the most brilliant Catalan scientists in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence, and also a prominent science fiction writer. She works as a research professor at CSIC, at the Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics of UPC and CSIC, where she leads the RobIRI research group. Her work primarily aims to improve the perception, learning, and planning capabilities of robots assisting people with physical or cognitive limitations, to achieve higher degrees of autonomy and ease of use. A reference in the incorporation of women into the technological world, she is a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain and has been recognized with several awards, including the National Research Prize of the Government of Catalonia and the National Research Prize Julio Rey Pastor.