Outstanding Papua New Guinean and a man of humility and wisdom.
 BiographyDr. Samuel Joseph Kopamu originates from Mukurisa Village, Wabag, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea. He graduated in 1996 from the University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom, with a PhD in pure mathematics. He also holds a MSc from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, having graduated from there in 1991. He did his undergraduate degree from the University of PNG, Port Moresby, PNG. He has served either as a mathematics lecturer or as a senior lecturer at three largest universities in PNG totaling over 23 years. The other two universities are University of PNG and the PNG University of Technology. In September 2012 Dr. Kopamu and family moved up to Goroka, where he is currently based, and the following year he became the Head of Mathematics Division. He served in that position until his recent appointment as Acting Pro Vice Chancellor in September 2015. During his time at University of Goroka, he attended several international mathematics conferences, the largest being the International Conference of Mathematicians held in South Korea in 2014. As the President of the PNG Mathematical Society he successfully got PNGMS recognized voted into the International Mathematical Union (IMU). He also helped to organize an international mathematics conference at University of Goroka in 2014. Presently, even while involved with his university administration work, he is also actively teaching pure mathematics courses and supervising postgraduate student research.
Areas of InterestDr. Samuel Kopamu has a very keen interest in contributing to making Papua New Guinea a better place to live through other means other than educating Papua New Guineans. He has served in several boards of companies as a director or as a chairman. Currently, he is a board member of the Telikom PNG Limited, and the chairman of the Board of PNG Directories Limited, etc. He also is a very keen contributor to the national development through formulation of relevant policies for PNG political parties. He and his family are active members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Research Interest/BackgroundHis research interest are in the areas of: the Algebraic Theory of Semigroups, Varieties of Semigroups, and the Lattice of all Semigroup Varieties.
Publications
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Engamorphic Products on semigroups”, Proceedings of the South Pacific Conference on Mathematics and Mathematics Education, edited by O.P. Ahuja (24-26 June 1992 University of Papua New Guinea), UBSPD Publishers, pages 231-238.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “On orthodox right quasi normal bands of groups”, Bulletin of Southeast Asian Math. Soc. Vol. 18 (1994), 105-116.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “On species of semigroups”, Communications in Algebra Vol. 23 (1995), pages 5513-5537.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “The concept of structural regularity”, Portugaliae Mathematica Vol. 53 (1996), pages 5513-456.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., A family album of Enga Adventist Jubilee, Published by Winter and Sons Ltd, United Kingdom (1994).
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “On structurally orthodox semigroups”, Algebraic Engineering (Word Scientific Publishers) (1999), Pages 462-474. (Proceedings of the International Conference on Algebraic Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan 1997).
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Varieties of structurally trivial semigroups I”, Semigroup Forum Vol. 58 (1999), Pages 159-174.
EDWARD,P, and HIGGINS,P.M, and KOPAMU, S.J.L. , “Remarks on Lallements Lemma and co-extensions of eventually regular semigroups”, with EDWARDS P.M. and HIGGINS P. Acta Scientarum Mathematicarum Vol. 67 (2001), Pages 385-400.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Varieties of structurally trivial semigroups II”. Semigroup Forum Vol. 66 (2003), Pages 401-415.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Varieties and nilpotent extensions of periodic permutative semigroups”, Semigroup Forum Vol. 69 (2004), Pages 255-280.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Mathematical Concepts in Enga Tokples”, PNG Journal of Mathematics, Computing, and Education,Vol. 7 (2005) Pages 13-18.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Varieties of structurally trivial semigroups III”, Communications in Algebra Vol.35 (Issue 6), (2007), Pages 1852-1876.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “On a certain lower part of the Lattice of all Semigroup Varieties” Proceedings of the Special Interest Meeting in Semigroups and Related Mathematics, Sydney University (2005) Abstract: www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/de/workshop/kopamu1.pdf
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “On the class of structurally regular semigroups”, Proceedings of the Special Interest Meeting in Semigroups and Related Mathematics, Sydney University (2005) Abstract: www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/de/workshop/kopamu2.pdf
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Semigroup Varieties of Structurally Left Normal Bands”, International Conference on Algebra and Related Topics Chulalongkorn University, Bankok, Thailand. (2008)
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “On Normal Bands”, Science in New Guinea (2010).
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Lattice of Semigroup Varieties”, 2011 UPNG Science Conference Holiday Inn, Port Moresby (2011).
18.   KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Certain Varieties of Structurally Semilatiice Semigroups”, South Pacific Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Vol. 1 Pages 118 --- 137 (2014).
Conference Presentations
KOPAMU, S.J.L., "A structure theorem for certain orthodox bands of groups", Victorian Algebra conference, Latrobe University, Australia (1992).
KOPAMU, S.J.L., "Engamorphic products on semigroups", South Pacific Conference on Mathematics and Mathematics Education, University of Papua New Guinea (1992).
KOPAMU, S.J.L., "Orthodox right Quasi-normal bands of groups", Southeast Asian Mathematics Conference, Qinqdao University, Qingdao, China (1993).
KOPAMU, S.J.L., "Varieties and lattices formed by certain structurally trivial semigroups", Weekly seminar of the Algebra Group, Sydney University, Sydney, Australia (1996).
KOPAMU, S.J.L., "Certain varieties formed by nilpotent extensions of rectangular bands", Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (1996).
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “On structurally orthodox semigroups”, The first International Conference on Algebraic Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan (1997). 
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Varieties of structurally trivial semigroups”, Victorian Algebra Conference, Latrobe University, Melbourne, Australia (2003).
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “On a certain lower part of the Lattice of all Semigroup Varieties”, Special Interest Meeting in Semigroups and Related Mathematics, Sydney University, NSW,. Australia, 27-29 June, 2005
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “On the class of structurally regular semigroups”, Special Interest Meeting in Semigroups and Related Mathematics, Sydney University, NSW, .Australia, 27-29 June, 2005
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Certain sub-lattices of the lattice of all semigroup varieties”, International Conference on Universal Algebra and Lattices, University of Szeged, Hungary, 4-8 July, 2005.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Semigroup Varieties of Structurally Left Normal Bands”, International Conference on Algebra and Related Topics (ICART), May 28-30, 2008, Bankok, Thailand.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “The Lattice of all Semigroup Varieties”, UPNG Science Conference, November 3-4, 2011, Holiday Inn - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
KOPAMU, S.J.L., “Certain Varieties of Structurally Semilattice Semigroups”, International Conference on Pure and Applied Mathematics (ICPAM2013), PNG University of Technology, November 26—28, (2013).
K. OWENS and P. SAKOPA and G.KRAVIA and V.BINO, KOPAMU S.J.L., “School Teachers for Culture and Mathematics: A design research project.” International Conference on Pure and Applied Mathematics (ICPAM2013), PNG University of Technology, Lae, November 26—28, (2013).
KOPAMU,S.J.L, and VAGI BINO and KEVIN ME’E., “Left-Wall of Structurally Semilattice Varieties I”, International Conference on Pure and Applied Mathematics (ICPAM2014), University of Goroka, December 8-12, (2014). ​

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