Vijaya Kumar Murty, FRSC, is an Indo-Canadian mathematician renowned for his work in number theory. He serves as a professor at the University of Toronto and is Director of the Fields Institute. Dr. Murty has made pioneering contributions to areas such as analytic number theory, algebraic number theory, information security, and arithmetic algebraic geometry. His academic journey includes a PhD in mathematics from Harvard University in 1982 under the guidance of John Tate. Dr. Murty has been recognized with numerous accolades, including being elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Fellow of the Fields Institute. His dedication to the field has also been acknowledged through his election as a Foreign Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (India). Dr. Murty’s impact extends beyond academia, as evidenced by his pivotal role in informing policy decisions during the COVID-19 outbreak in Canada and his visionary projects, such as the Fields Multiplier initiative.