, Distinguished James 51吃瓜网Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is the 2025 recipient听of the听Acfas听Urgel-Archambault听Prize.听The听award,听sponsored by the Quebec government,听is presented听annually听to a researcher in the field of physical sciences, mathematics, computer听science听or engineering.
Genest specializes in statistics.听Through his career, he has repeatedly听demonstrated听how methodological breakthroughs can have important societal impacts.
His work听has influenced how we perceive and model complex dependence relationships between听numerous听variables,听leading, among other things,听to听a more realistic estimation听of the听intensity听and frequency of natural disasters. For example, he helped develop a flood risk endorsement for a major Canadian insurance company and听he听designed听tools to forecast heavy rainfall听that听support听Environment and Climate Change Canada鈥檚 mission.听He has听also听advised听Statistics Canada and the Quebec听Department听of Finance听and has听helped Hydro-Qu茅bec refine its climate forecasting models.
Genest held a Canada Research Chair in Stochastic Dependence Modelling until last May. Recognized worldwide for his work in multivariate analysis, nonparametric听statistics听and extreme-value theory, he is the author or co-author of more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, and some of his writings are among the most cited in his field of听expertise.
Has transformed mathematical knowledge into operational tools
鈥淢cGill听celebrates Professor Genest鈥檚 recognition by听Acfas, a testament to his leadership in and commitment to advancing research excellence,鈥� said Dominique B茅rub茅, Vice-President,听Research听and Innovation. 鈥淗is work has transformed mathematical knowledge into operational tools for preventing and managing risks. It also illustrates the power of collaboration between universities, government听and the private sector in serving the people of Quebec.鈥�
In addition to his contributions to the advancement of knowledge, Genest听is dedicated to听training听the next generation of researchers. Over the past 40 years,听including听25 as a professor at McGill,听he has supervised more than 70 graduate students and听over听15 postdoctoral fellows who are involved in听knowledge听acquisition and dissemination.听He has also been heavily involved in science outreach activities.
Alanna Watt, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Science,听called听Genest 鈥渢he embodiment of the link between academic rigour and community service.
鈥淗is work helps decision-makers better understand and听anticipate听climate risks. This award听underscores the importance of supporting teams that transform research into concrete solutions,鈥澨齭he said.
听
Recognizing the importance of statistics
Genest听expressed delight听that, through him,听Acfas听is explicitly recognizing, for the first time,听the importance of statistics, whose methods of data collection,听analysis听and interpretation, he noted,听are at the heart of the scientific process.
鈥淎t a time when so many people harbour or spread doubts about science, this is a testament to the principles and values of our society. We must strive to foster this difference,鈥澨鼼enest said.
This听honour for Genest听is the latest of many.听He听received the Statistical Society of Canada鈥檚 Gold Medal (2011), the John L. Synge Award from the Royal Society of Canada (2020), the CRM-Fields-PIMS Prize (2023) and the Emanuel and Carol听Parzen听Prize (2024). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2015.
The awards ceremony took place Nov. 20 at the 81st Acfas gala in Montreal. Originally the Association canadienne-fran莽aise pour l鈥檃vancement des sciences, the academic NGO is now simply known as Acfas.