A Toronto researcher will receive the top prize today at a ceremony to honour Canada’s leaders in natural sciences and engineering research.  Stephen A. Cook is a U of T mathematician and computer scientist.  He will  receive $1-million in research funding over the next five years.

He’ll also receive the Herzberg Gold Medal, the top honour from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.  Cook is being acknowledged for key contributions to computational theory, algorithm design, programming languages and mathematical logic.

Prizes for top graduate students will also be awarded in a ceremony hosted by Gov.-Gen. David Johnston.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada supports almost 30,000 post-secondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their studies.