Provincially, Dr. Shawyer proposed the formation and was the founding member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Mathematical Association. He was one of the three people who developed the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association Math League, a competition for senior high school students that he continues to strongly support. Moreover, he developed and virtually single handedly, runs the Junior High Math Challenge, a mail-in problem solving experience for students in grades 7 to 9.

He has also made significant contributions at the national and international level through the Mathematical Olympiads. He was the Leader and coach of various Canadian teams to the annual International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). He was also the Chief Operating Officer of the 36th International Mathematical Olympiad - OIM 1995 IMO.

The IMO is the premier mathematical experience for mathematically gifted high school students and might be considered the “World Cup” of mathematics competitions. The 36th IMO was held in Canada for the first time ever in July 1995. The fact that it was held in Canada was a direct result of the efforts of Dr. Shawyer over a period of more than eight years. In 1987, he was appointed Chair of the CMS IMO Feasibility Committee and subsequently he became Chair of the CMS IMO Implementation Committee. The International Jury for the IMO accepted Canada's bid to host the 1995 IMO and, in 1990, Dr. Shawyer was appointed the Chief Operating Officer of a new corporation, the OIM 1995 IMO Corporation, established to manage,organize and promote the 1995 IMO in Canada.

Born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland Bruce Shawyer received his B.Sc. with honours for Pure and Applied Mathematics and his Ph.D. in Summability from University of St. Andrews.

His is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (UK) with further designation as a Chartered Mathematician. He was an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow in 1979-80 at the Universitat Ulm.

He has worked in various universities: University of Nottingham (1962-66); University of Western Ontario (1966-85); and at Memorial University of Newfoundland from 1985 to date, where he is currently employed and holds rank of Professor since 1976. He was Assistant Chairman for Mathematics at University of Western Ontario (1980-85) and Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Memorial University of Newfoundland (1985-91).

Dr. Shawyer has served on various committees of the CMS which include: the Canadian Mathematical Society Olympiad Committee; the Canadian Mathematical Society International Mathematical Olympiad Committee (Chairman and Head Coach 1986-89); the Canadian Mathematical Society 1995 International Mathematical Olympiad Feasibility Study Committee (Chairman 1989-90); the Canadian Mathematical Society 1995 International Mathematical Olympiad Implementation Committee (Chairman 1990-91); and the International Mathematical Olympiad - 1995 (Director and Chief Operating Officer).

Dr. Shawyer was one of the co-founders of the Asian Pacific Mathematical Olympiad and instigated the Ryerson Public School Math Club (London, Ontario). He is also a founder of the Newfoundland Teachers Association Mathematics Council Senior Mathematics League Committee and ran the St. John's School Mathematics Enrichment Programme. As well he started the Newfoundland Mathematical Challenge for Junior High School Students.

Extract reproduced by Larisa Mironova, from the original source