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PRESS RELEASE

Forum to bring 200 leading experts on Mathematics Education to Toronto May 6-8, 2005

TORONTO, May 4, 2005 - More than 200 math education experts - including teachers, instructors, researchers and provincial government representatives from across the country - will gather in Toronto to address the question "Why Teach Mathematics?"

They're in town from May 6 - 8 for the 2005 Canadian Mathematics Education Forum being held at the Fields Institute and the University of Toronto. It's the third in a series of national mathematics education conferences designed to encourage national dialogue on important issues and concerns in the development and future of mathematics education in Canada at levels of schooling. Previous forums were held in Montreal and Quebec City in 2003 and 1995 respectively. Full forum details can be found at www.cms.math.ca/Events/CMEF2005

As part of the Forum, Stephen Lewis will deliver a talk titled Deciphering our World, on the importance of mathematics education in creating a questioning and informed public. His talk, which is open to the public, will be held on Friday, May 6, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Medical Sciences Auditorium at the U of T. Mr. Lewis is the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. He is also a Commissioner for the World Health Organization's Commission on the Social Determinants of Health and a Senior Advisor to the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York. He is also a director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which is dedicated to easing the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Founded in 1945, the Canadian Mathematical Society is the main national organization whose goal is to promote and advance the discovery, learning, and application of mathematics. The Society's activities cover the whole spectrum of mathematics: scientific meetings and publishing of research material, education at all levels and the popularization of mathematics. The education activities include competitions, mathematics camps in all provinces, posters for students, meetings, etc. For more details see www.cms.math.ca

The Fields Institute, located in Toronto, is recognized as one of the world's leading independent mathematical research institutions. With a wide array of pure, applied, industrial, financial and educational programs, The Fields Institute attracts over 1,000 visitors annually from every corner of the globe, to collaborate on leading-edge research programs in the mathematical sciences. The Field's Institute is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, seven principal sponsoring universities, five affiliate universities and several corporate sponsors. See www.fields.utoronto.ca for further details.

For more information, contact:
Ms. Maryam Ali Telephone: (416) 348-9710 x3024 E-mail: mali@fields.utoronto.ca	The Fields Institute 222 College Street Toronto, Ontario M5T 3J1