Evans

On Friday 8 June 2001, Professor BH Neumann presented a BH Neumann Award to Dr Michael Evans, one of Australia;s distinguished teachers, for service to the Trust and to mathematics education generally. He is also a man of remarkably wide interests.

Michael Evans receives his Award from Professor Neumann, at the function at Rockman's Regency Hotel, Melbourne.

Michael Evans with mother Len, wife Cheryl and father Bill.

Citation

Michael Evans has a distinguished record as a mathematics educator in Victoria and Australia and in his career has added value to the mathematics learning of many thousands of Australian students beyond those in his own school.

Born in South Australia, Michael moved with his parents at the age of seven. He completed his secondary studies at Brighton High School, where he was School Captain and was involved with swimming, athletics and hockey. He competed in State Championships in swimming and played First Division in hockey.

He was educated at Monash University from 1966 to 1973, earning an Honours Science Degree majoring in Pure Mathematics, and completing a PhD under the supervision of Professor Finch (and partly with Terry Speed at Sheffield in 1971). In 1973 he received a Dip Ed at La Trobe University.

During the 1970 and 1980s he also travelled somewhat in Europe, and developed a special interest in Byzantine Studies and Greek and Middle eastern history.

While Michael had the qualifications for a research career, and in fact wrote a number of papers in ring theory, Michael elected to develop a ceareer as a teacher. After graduating in Dip Ed and some post doctoral study Michael joined the government school system, where in 1978 he was with the now closed Moreland High School in Coburg in 1978.

In 1979 he moved across to St Michael's Grammar School, where he stayed until 1987. In 1988 he was appointed Head of Mathematics at Scotch College, where he has been ever since. Scotch is a school which has produced such mathematicians as Sir Thomas Cherry, ER Love, and other Australian professors such as Tim Brown and Robert Bartnik.

Michael has had a profound influence of his own at Scotch. In its history, Scotch has produced 16 AMC medals, 15 of which were awarded after he arrived. This is an average of more than one per year. In addition, Scotch has produced 9 members of IMO teams, all since his arrival at the school, an average of almost one per year in recent times. Michael's influence on mathematics at Scotch clearly pervades all levels in a positive way.

Michael is an outstanding text book author, having written successful texts for Canmbridge which have sold well, not only in Victoria. He has been contributor or co-editor to a number of Trust publications, including the Tool Chest and Enrichment Series.

He was an original member of the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians Problems Committee, and has for over ten years been a member of the Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee Senior Problems Committee.

He was Deputy Leader of the Australian IMO team on three occasions, including the very difficult trip to India in 1996 when one of our students became ill and Michael and Cheryl stayed behind with him.

He was prepared to fill in at short notice in 1996 to be Acting Director of Training for AMOC while a new person was being appointed, and directed the School of Excellence in Melbourne in December 1996.

Michael has been actively involved in curriculum development and assessment in Victoria, having served in a number of roles with the VCE, MAV and Board of Studies. He has also given a number of workshops for teachers, and in recent years these have been particularly directed at making the most effective use of the graphic calculator.

In 1999 Michael was recognised by Monash University with an Honorary Doctorate. This was a particularly rare honour, particularly for his profession.

Peter Taylor

Friday 08 June 2001