Professor Ken Houston, today received a Distinguished Teaching Fellowship from the University.

Professor Ken Houston, Professor of Mathematical Studies at the School of Computing and Mathematics, today receives a Distinguished Teaching Fellowship from the University.

Professor Houston’s teaching association with the university spans some 30 years, beginning with a lectureship at the Ulster Polytechnic before it became part of the University of Ulster.

The Fellowship is being awarded in recognition of his international reputation in mathematics education and his innovative undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. His approach focuses on equipping students with both knowledge and a practical approach to their science, aimed at improving their job prospects. He is noted for having introduced initiatives such as peer tutoring and development of employment skills.

Belfast-born, he was educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Queen’s University. During 1967–73, he lectured in Applied Mathematics at the University of Sheffield and worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, USA.

He joined the Ulster Polytechnic in 1974 and from 1984 to 1994 was Head of the Department of Mathematics in the University of Ulster. He was appointed Professor of Mathematical Studies in 1996. From 1999 to 2003 he was President of the International Conference on the Teaching of Mathematical Modelling and Applications and he has served as Chairman of several committees in the UK and Ireland on mathematics education.

Professor Houston has published more than 100 papers and written or edited several books in his specialist area, including Creators of Mathematics-the Irish Connection.

He and his wife, Patricia, live in Belfast. They have three grown up children and two grandchildren. He is a Non Stipendiary Minister in the Church of Ireland.

He said: “I am very pleased to have received this award and I pay tribute to the many people with whom I have worked over the years on innovations in mathematics teaching both at secondary school level and at university level. I thank my wife and children for all their support and encouragement.”


Winter Graduation News 2005

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David Young
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