UL Maths Wizz Samual Den Dikken Wins Prestigious Hamilton Prize

A student at University of Limerick has been given a prestigious award for excellence in mathematics by the Royal Irish Academy (RIA).

Samual Den Dikken, from Castleconnell in Limerick, is one of nine winners from across the universities in Ireland to have received the award from the RIA.

A final year student of the BSc in Financial Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, he takes the prize as the top student in his programme at University of Limerick.

The award ceremony took place at the Academy on Wednesday, 16 October 2024, a date that marks the anniversary of famed Irish scientist William Rowan Hamilton’s discovery of quaternion algebra on 16 October 1843.

Ibec, who sponsor the RIA prize and Hamilton Day activities, see developing STEM talent as a key role in safeguarding Ireland’s economic future.

Congratulating Samual on his achievement Professor James Gleeson, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at UL said: “On behalf of the department, I’d like to congratulate Samual on winning the Hamilton Prize, which is named after one of Ireland’s most famous applied mathematicians, William Rowan Hamilton.”

“This prize is awarded annually by the Royal Irish Academy to the top final-year mathematics undergraduate student in each university, and Samual is a deserving winner.”

Professor Pat Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy said:

‘Each year since 2002 the Royal Irish Academy has commemorated Hamilton’s ‘Eureka moment’ and his contribution to mathematics by celebrating Hamilton Day. We do this because Ireland has a rich history of scientific excellence that should be celebrated and recognised.

Although we look to the past to commemorate Hamilton’s achievements, this event is also an opportunity to look to the future and to recognise the next generation of great Irish mathematicians.’

In recognition of his mathematical excellence, Samuel has received a cash prize of €500 and a certificate of achievement at an award ceremony in the Royal Irish Academy. He also attended an exclusive masterclass with the 2024 Hamilton Lecture speaker, Professor Laura DeMarco from Harvard University, which was hosted by Ibec.

The nine 2024 Hamilton Prize winners are Dara Colleran, University of Galway; Daniel Cooper, Dublin City University; Laura Cosgrave, University College Cork; Oisín Davey, Maynooth University; Samual Den Dikken, University of Limerick; Kai Quan Lian, Queen’s University Belfast; Mateusz Mroczkowski, TU Dublin; Brian O'Callaghan, Trinity College Dublin; Jack Sherry, University College Dublin.