Bass was educated at Princeton U. (BA, 1955) and U. of Chicago (MS, 1956; PhD, 1959). He is Samuel Eilenberg Dist. U. Prof. of Mathematics and Mathematics Education, U. of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He was Adrain Prof. of Mathematics, Columbia U. (1959-99), and had visiting research and faculty positions at mathematical centres worldwide. He is a founder of the Algebraic K-Theory field and co-founder of the theory of group actions on trees. His awards include: Sloan and Guggenheim Fellowships; Cole Prize in Algebra, American Mathematics Soc.; Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award for Disti. Service to Mathematics, Mathematical Assn. of America; and US Natl. Medal of Science. He is member of the Natl. Acad. of Sciences, USA, American Acad. of Arts and Sciences, and the Natl. Acad. of Education, USA. He is past pres., American Mathematical Soc. and Intl. Commission on Mathematical Instruction.

Azzam is distinguished professor of electrical engineering, University of New Orleans (UNO). After receiving his BSc (Cairo University, 1967) and PhD (University of Nebraska, 1971), he held postdoctoral and faculty positions at the University of Nebraska until 1979 when he joined UNO. He was Fulbright scholar and visiting professor at Université de Provence, France, and professor of physics at the American University in Cairo. He served as topical editor for the Journal of the Optical Society of America (OSA) and Applied Optics, and as member of the OSA Publications Council. His honours include: 2005 GG Stokes Award of SPIE, International Society for Optical Engineering; 1993 Photonics Circle of Excellence Award; 1993 R and D Award; 1988 Outstanding American Inventor; 1985 Fulbright Scholar (France); and fellow of the Optical Society of America and SPIE.

Alpers was educated at Adelaide U. and Cambridge U., UK (Makin scholar). He is emeritus professor of international health at Curtin U. in Perth, Australia. He was previously: John Curtin distinguished professor, Curtin U.; research officer, Kuru Research, Okapa, Territory of New Guinea 1961-63; visiting scientist at NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 1964-67; research fellow, dept. of microbiology, Univ. of Western Australia, Perth 1968-76; and dir. of the Papua New Guinea Inst. of Medical Research 1977-2000. His awards include: Medal, Collѐge de France; Macdonald Medal, Royal Society Trop. Med. Hyg., London; Queensland Inst. Med. Res. Fellow; PNG Inst. Med. Res. Fellow; Hon. Internatl. Fellow, Am. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg.; Inaugural Life Member, Med. Soc. Papua New Guinea; Fellow, Royal Society of London and Australian Acad. of Science; Companion of the Order of the Star of Melanesia (PNG); and Officer of the Order of Australia.