Mathematical exploration at Simon Fraser University occurs through the lens of tangible learning, an approach spearheaded by Nathalie Sinclair. Her career integrates the abstract nature of geometric modeling with the practical requirements of subject didactics, utilizing digital technology to bridge the gap between complex theory and the cognitive development of students in modern educational environments.
Academic Foundations and Early Research
Born in 1970 in Grenoble, Sinclair moved to Canada and completed undergraduate studies at McGill University. Her initial academic focus shifted toward mathematics before she pursued a master’s degree at Simon Fraser University under Len Berggren, specializing in the history of mathematics and mathematical developments in medieval Islam. She served as a middle school teacher for mathematics and French on Bowen Island prior to obtaining her Ph.D. in 2002 from Queen’s University at Kingston. Her doctoral work was supervised by Peter Taylor and William Higginson.
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Sinclair accepted a joint appointment at Michigan State University in 2003, serving within both the College of Natural Sciences and the College of Education. By 2014, she collaborated with Nicholas Jackiw to create a mathematical application designed for children between three and eight years of age, emphasizing hands-on engagement. Following this, she returned to Simon Fraser University to serve as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Tangible Mathematics Learning.
Recognition and Scholarly Contributions
The scope of her research includes the study of how dynamic geometry influences classroom discourse, a topic explored in her 2008 paper co-authored with Violeta Yurita, which earned the Janet Duffin Award. Additionally, her 2014 volume, Mathematics and the Body: Material Entanglements in the Classroom, written with Elizabeth de Freitas, received an Honourable Mention from the American Educational Research Association. Honors continued in 2017 when Partners in Research designated her as Canada’s Mathematics Ambassador, followed by her election as a member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada. She received the Svend Pedersen Lecture Award in 2019.
Fast facts
- Born: 1970, Grenoble
- Citizenship: Canada
- Current Primary Institution: Simon Fraser University
- Ph.D. Year: 2002, Queen's University
- Fields: Mathematics, geometric modeling, digital technology
- Award: Janet Duffin Award (2008)
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Sinclair's Canada Research Chair?
She holds the position of Canada Research Chair in Tangible Mathematics Learning at Simon Fraser University.
What is the objective of the math app developed in 2014?
Developed with Nicholas Jackiw, the app targets children ages three to eight to facilitate mathematics instruction through hands-on learning.
Achievements
- Held posts at Simon Fraser University
- Fields: mathematics, subject didactics and digital technology
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