Officer of the Order of Canada
- Awarded on: May 7, 2015
- Invested on: November 17, 2016
Stephen Cook, O.C., O.Ont.
Toronto, Ontario
Officer of the Order of Canada
For his seminal contributions to theoretical computer science and mathematics, including his contributions to complexity theory.
Stephen Cook has made legendary contributions at the intersection of mathematics and computer science. A professor at the University of Toronto since 1970, he has advanced complexity theory by identifying the types of problems that computers can
and cannot solve efficiently. This is regarded as one of the fundamental principles of computer science and is applied daily in countless ways, from scheduling airline routes to building encryption algorithms for internet security. A dedicated mentor, he has
advised numerous students who have gone on to prominent academic careers.