Bonita V. Saunders facts for kids

Bonita Valerie Saunders is an American mathematician. She is known for making math easier to see and understand. This is called mathematical visualization. She works at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST is a government lab that helps with science and technology.

At NIST, Bonita Saunders helps create the Digital Library of Mathematical Functions. This is a huge online collection of math information. She is the main person who designs the pictures and graphs. These visuals help people understand very complex math ideas.

Her Journey in Math

Bonita Saunders is a very smart mathematician. She earned her highest degree, a Ph.D., in 1985. This was from Old Dominion University. Her studies focused on computational and applied mathematics. This means she uses computers to solve real-world math problems. She also earned a master's degree from the University of Virginia. And she got her first degree from the College of William and Mary.

Before working at NIST, she worked for a company called BDM. At NIST, she is a key part of the Applied and Computational Mathematics Division. This division uses math to solve problems in technology. Her work involves making special math functions easier to use. She also works on creating numerical grids. These grids help computers solve complex math equations.

Helping the Math Community

Bonita Saunders has done a lot to help other mathematicians. She has been involved with the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). From 1999 to 2002, she was a treasurer for a local MAA group. She also helped choose speakers for the Etta Z. Falconer Lecture. This lecture celebrates women in mathematics.

She was also on a committee that connects math to business and government. In 2019, she represented her local MAA section at a big meeting. As of 2020, she helps edit Mathematics Magazine. She is also on the board for the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM).

Awards and Special Recognitions

Bonita Saunders has received many awards for her important work.

• In 2001, the National Association of Mathematicians chose her. She gave the Claytor Lecture at a big math meeting.
• In 2011, her research group won a Gold Medal. This award was from the US Department of Commerce. It recognized their work on the online Digital Library of Mathematical Functions.
• In 2017, she received an award from NIST. It was for her excellent leadership in technology.
• In 2018, a group called Mathematically Gifted & Black honored her. They celebrated her during Black History Month.
• In 2019, she won an award for her research. This was from the Washington Academy of Sciences. She also became a Fellow of the Washington Academy of Sciences. This means she is a respected member.
• In 2021, she gave the Etta Zuber Falconer Lecture. This was at a math festival called MathFest.