The Department of Mathematics is pleased to announce that Mary Pugh has been recognized as part of the Interdisciplinary Data Science Course Development Team, which has received the prestigious Northrop Frye Award, one of the University’s Awards of Excellence.
The award recognizes the team’s creation of three introductory data science courses designed for students across the Faculty of Arts & Science, particularly those without a traditional computational or quantitative background.
Bringing together seven instructors from the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and mathematical sciences, the team combined disciplinary and pedagogical expertise to create learning experiences that equip students with broadly applicable skills. The courses foster critical thinking, encourage innovative approaches to problem-solving, and prepare students to engage with complex, real-world challenges.
The courses include: ENG286H1 — Literature and Data; GGR274H — Introductory Computation and Data Science for the Social Sciences; and EEB125H1 — Introductory Computation and Data Science for the Life and Physical Sciences.
The team includes:
Professor Paul Gries, Teaching Stream, Computer Science
Associate Professor Adam Hammond, English
Professor David Liu, Teaching Stream, Computer Science
Professor Tomomi Parins-Fukuchi, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Professor Mary Pugh, Mathematics
Professor Nathan Taback, Teaching Stream, Statistical Sciences
Professor Michael Widener, Geography & Planning
The initiative emerged from the Faculty of Arts & Science Computational and Data Studies Working Group that was established to address growing student demand for computational and data-related learning beyond the departments of Computer Science and Statistical Sciences.
U of T’s Awards of Excellence program has recognized exceptional students, faculty, librarians and administrative staff members since 1921. Though the criteria differ for each of the awards in the suite, recipients all share a commitment to enhancing the university experience of their peers and leave a significant impact on the university through their efforts.
Read more in the Arts & Science News.