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Monthly Archives: December 2010
Sorry folks! No blogging till the new year
… as I will be busy being Canadian
Posted in Uncategorized
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Thank you! But what next?
I am deeply honored by the news that the faculty at UBC have re-elected me to represent them on the Board of Governors for another 3-year term. I pledge again to continue my engagement with the pertinent issues, to support … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors
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From peer review to Citizen Reviews: The @%&#! are back!
“Attacking early research efforts as wasteful seems akin to telling 8-year-olds they shouldn’t waste their time dreaming about their future.” But the merchants of ignorance, south of the border, are back gearing up for a new cycle. The new republican … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
2 Comments
To the Board of Governors they bring maturity, wisdom, and gravitas
… And to me, they bring comfort and hope in our future as a society and as a country. Sean Heisler, Ben Glassco, and Azim Wazeer are currently the students’ elected representatives on UBC’s Board of Governors. Three remarkable young … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors, Honouring friends
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David Mumford receives the US National Medal of Science
Our friend and colleague David Mumford is among this year’s recipients of the US National Medals of Science. With Mathematics, “you can discover things (on your own) … You don’t have to get Ferdinand and Isabella to give you a … Continue reading
Posted in Honouring friends
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UA oil-sands researchers need to talk more to each other
Yesterday, a panel sponsored by the Royal Society of Canada and dominated by University of Alberta scientists released a report, that some viewed as exonerating for Alberta’s oil-sands reputation. The National Post points to the following paragraph of the report:
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The RSC’s mining of the oil sands … data
“Oil Industry gets a do-over” according to yesterday’s National Post. Its editorial board is pointing to “an exhaustive new study on Alberta’s oil sands” released today by the “impartial Royal Society of Canada”.
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Expert panel to examine and tell us what others do!
Finally, the long-awaited announcement from the Council of Canadian Academies: “The Minister of Industry, on behalf of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), asked the Council of Canadian Academies to examine the international practices and supporting evidence used … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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Pillage California. Pillage England. Pillage …
Alex Usher, President, Higher Education Strategy Associates, is echoing a theme I touched upon here a few weeks ago. But he is better at it! I talked about how Canada is in a global war for talent. He wants “our … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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Tu quoque fili
Gordon Campbell is not gone yet, but the Business council of British Columbia can hardly wait to start dismantling one of his main legacies. It is urging the Liberals to “pause and re-set” their climate policies — noting that “the … Continue reading
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While Goodyear reviews, others play Santa
Industry Minister Clement has announced a $300 million investment in a research and development project by aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada. The investment is expected to “create more than 700 highly skilled jobs during the project work phase, … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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A post-secondary education system with no arbitrage
The British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education surprised local post-secondary educators this month when it declared a six-month moratorium, starting Sept. 1, on new degree programs, saying it wants to take time to assess the province’s educational needs.
Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy
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Higgs Boson not confirmed yet, but Mathematics of salt is
Jonathan Borwein just sent me these priceless photos of the Halaman Ferguson structure “under construction”.
Posted in Honouring friends
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The new poster boy of mathematics
Any one who has walked the streets of the Latin quarter in Paris knows about the special reverence with which the French treat their scholars. The streets carry the names of no other but Laplace, Fourier, Monge, Poincaré, Curie, Perrin, … Continue reading
Posted in Honouring friends
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A Higgs boson concealed in your award!
In response to my post, “Buckling under the weight of an award”, David Brydges wrote, “Someone must have planted a Higgs Boson in your award! After all, particle physicists believe that it is the origin of mass.”
Posted in Honouring friends
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How come we never talk enough about death?
I attended yesterday a memorial service for Virginia Greene (1944-2010). I didn’t know her well. I had met her on the UBC Board of Governors that she joined about a year ago. She was already frail and suffering the effect … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors, Honouring friends
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Buckling under the weight of an award
Last Sunday, the Canadian Mathematical Society had a banquet in downtown Vancouver, where they officially gave out their annual prizes. I was honored to receive the David Borwein Distinguished Career Award.
Posted in Honouring friends
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NSERC Discovery Grants III: The Stockholm syndrome
The most important new information that Isabelle Blain provided, and the most validating of NSERC’s new evaluation system, was the result of a survey –conducted by NSERC’s staff– of the panelists who dealt with both systems (from 2008-2010). They seem … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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NSERC Discovery Grants II: On intentions and consequence (Old vs. new)
Of the many recommendations that NSERC received in 2007 from both the internal and international reviews, they picked the one that asks, “to separate the process of assessing scientific or engineering merit from assigning funding”. Fair enough!
Posted in R&D Policy
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NSERC’s Discovery Grants I: Of banality and burden (Agendas and consequences)
As promised, here is a first installment of several posts I am preparing about the Discovery Grant program after my public debate with Isabelle Blain, NSERC’s VP for Research Grants & Scholarships. This first one will give the background behind … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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Piece of Mind 