Sponsored by the CSC Physical, Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Division, University of Toronto, Department of Chemistry and Xerox Canada
The John C. Polanyi Award is presented for excellence by a scientist carrying out research in Canada in physical, theoretical or computational chemistry or chemical physics.
View the Terms of Reference and list of Past Winners
The 2026 winner of the John C. Polanyi Award is:
Paul Woodson Ayers, MCIC
McMaster University
Paul W. Ayers received his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina (2001), supervised by Robert Parr and Max Berkowitz (2001). After spending a year as a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow under the direction of Weitao Yang (Duke University, 2001-2002) he joined McMaster University, where he is holds the Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Chemistry. His research focus is the development of new mathematical and computational tools for describing and predicting chemical reactivity and, towards this end, he also develops accurate and efficient tools for molecular electronic structure. His research techniques include the discovery of mathematical theorems and the design of numerical algorithms, along with the development and application of those methods through free and open-source software. He is the co-founder of the interdisciplinary and international QC-Devs software consortium. As (co)author more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and given more than 300 invited lectures around the world, his work has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Dirac Medal, the annual medal of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science, the Steacie Prize, and the Rutherford Medal.