SUTA :: Sharif University of Technology Association

The board of directors of Sharif University of Technology Association (SUTA) is pleased to announce the winner of the first SUTA’s Dr. Amin’s Lifetime Achievement Award. After several months of deliberation and considering close to 20 very qualified candidates, SUTA’s board of directors chose Dr. Siavash Shahshahani, the chairman and a long time professor of the Department of Mathematics of Sharif University of Technology as the winner of this year’s award.

Dr. Shahshahani received his PhD from the University of California at Berkley in 1969 and taught in UC Berkley, Northwestern University, and the University of Wisconsin before he joined Sharif University (Aryamehr University at the time) in 1974. Since then he has taught many undergraduate and graduate courses, conducted academic research in the area of dynamical systems, and has supervised several Ph.D. and numerous M.Sc. students. In addition popularization of mathematics through expository writing and lectures has been his ongoing interest. Dr. Shahshahani has twice received the best teacher’s award and was chosen to the Iran’s scientific hall of fame in 2003. Due to his and other professors’ mentorship, the Department of Mathematics of Sharif University has become a producer of sharp mathematical minds many of whom now teach in the best colleges worldwide.

As the first deputy director of Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (1989-2002), he was an instrumental figure in bringing and popularizing Internet in Iran despite various social challenges. This important move in a few short years turned Iran with its young population into the number one Internet user in the Middle East significantly contributing to the country’s long term development. In 2009, Dr. Shahshahani was honored for contributions to the establishment of Internet in Iran by the Iranian Association for the Study of Information Society on the occasion of the 40^th anniversary of Internet.

“A brilliant academician and researcher, an excellent teacher and inspiring mentor, a visionary strategist, a prized author, this 68 year old math professor is believed to be the best choice to receive this year SUTA’s Dr. Amin’s Lifetime Achievement Award.” Said Dr. Shahryar Makarechi, the vice president of SUTA and the coordinator of the award.

“This award to Dr. Shahshahani is a well deserved and long overdue token of appreciation from generations of Sharif students to one example of many brilliant individuals who chose to dedicate their lives to the noble cause of training their country’s sharpest minds.” Said Dr. Jalil Kamali, the president of SUTA.

Dr. Shahshahani will receive his award at the upcoming SUTA reunion in Gothenburg, Sweden July 23-25.

Dr. Mohammad Reza Amin, the third president of Sharif University (1968-1972), was a successful academician and industrialist whose services to Sharif University was instrumental in its astonishing success in training highly qualified engineers and scientists in later decades. Much of the processes and systems of the university is the heritage of Dr. Amin who passed away few years ago. SUTA’s Lifetime Achievement Award was named after him by the board of directors to commemorate the services of this great individual.