Category Archives: Op-eds

The not-so-secret war between the universities and community colleges

Posted on March 30, 2013 by

The folks of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) may have entered the budget lockup in a sunny mood, but they can’t be now, in spite of their rosy post-budget announcements. The colleges on the other hand … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NSERC: Time to press the “reset” button on its relations with government and the scientific community

Posted on March 21, 2013 by

There is no doubt that Suzanne Fortier bears a big responsibility for the unprecedented changes to the landscape of government support to university sponsored research and innovation. But it is hard to believe that she is solely responsible for this major … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | 2 Comments

NSERC: Time to press the “reset” button on the mandate

Posted on March 18, 2013 by

Cathleen Crudden, President of the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC) has already hinted at it in her blog post on the occasion of Suzanne Fortier’s exit from NSERC. “Choosing her successor will be a critical task. With academic and industrial researchers calling for more funding … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Suzanne Fortier’s last salvo

Posted on March 6, 2013 by

You all heard the news by now, and I got more than my share of phone calls, emails and tweets informing me about it. Suzanne Fortier is to become the 17th Principal and Vice-Chancellor (President) of McGill University, effective early September, … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

It takes more than talent and hard work to win academic awards

Posted on March 2, 2013 by

Upon seeing the announcement by NSERC of its “Top Researchers,” I couldn’t help myself from tweeting, “UBC a no-show! Get off your comfortable arse and start nominating your colleagues.” I was surprised by how many non-UBCers retweeted my scream. I then remembered a … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Mathematics is alive and well, but living under different names”

Posted on February 18, 2013 by

That was the assessment of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) back in 1996. “This comment is still apropos,” they wrote in their latest report of 2012. “Although the mathematical sciences are pervasive, they are often invoked without an explicit awareness … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Why do I have the best job in the world

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

Just imagine if you receive a Valentine’s card every day of every week of every one of the last 10 years. OK! not the loving and lusting kind, but the feel good and appreciative type. “Dear BIRS Director, The attached paper, `Byzantine … Continue reading →

Posted in Banff International Research Station, Op-eds | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the “Mathematics of Planet Earth Initiative”

Posted on December 14, 2012 by

Marc Garneau, our astronaut MP, who saw from outer space how beautiful, fragile and precious our planet was, didn’t do it. Ted Hsu, our Physicist MP, who witnessed its launch last week-end in Montreal, didn’t talk about it. Kennedy Stewart, Official … Continue reading →

Posted in Banff International Research Station, Op-eds | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Embedded” in Ottawa

Posted on December 1, 2012 by

I am getting to understand the risks (and rewards) of “embedded journalism.”  Less than 24 hours into my trip to Ottawa, I started to feel uncharacteristically mollified, dangerously neutralized, and ridiculously guilty. Ever since I met with Gary Goodyear, Minister … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Canada’s young scholars to contend with NSERC’s new dirigisme

Posted on October 2, 2012 by

NSERC has finally responded to the multiple articles, blogs and editorials criticizing the declining success rate in its postdoctoral fellowship program. It is unfortunate that they chose to do so through a media outlet that is sitting behind a pay … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

“You hit the jackpot!”

Posted on September 25, 2012 by

That’s what I am told lately, over and over again. That the Banff International Research Station (BIRS) has hit the jackpot, because the man who has just accepted to chair its Board of Directors is no ordinary man. To have … Continue reading →

Posted in Honouring friends, Op-eds | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Quite unusual for an Ottawa Monday morning dump

Posted on September 11, 2012 by

As always, politicians were crowding the Monday morning issue of the Hill Times newspaper. But today’s was different from any other day. No less than four politicians were either making “major” statements about federal plans for funding R&D, or taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

R&D front: Signs that government may be starting to get it

Posted on July 30, 2012 by

And no, I am not sending out a public bouquet to government à la Naylor-Toope. I am talking about a government that is starting to realize that it’s more important to tune into the dreams and aspirations of Canada’s research community than to … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Canada’s Mathematical “Dream Team”

Posted on July 18, 2012 by

Back on July 2nd, I received a report that four members of Canada’s International Math Olympiad team were stuck for more than an hour in the elevator, while training at the Banff International Research Station. Well, it doesn’t look like this time … Continue reading →

Posted in Honouring friends, Op-eds | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Obsession

Posted on May 29, 2012 by

“His character is full of flaws, flittering from one obsessive behaviour to another, and he does this effortlessly.”  Mathematics is back with a vengeance, taking up all of my mental space. The same obsessive behaviour that got me to write … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“To promote a deeper understanding of our world”, Canada may need a Jim Simons

Posted on May 8, 2012 by

The news may come as a shock to the Dean of U. Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, Roger Martin, and all those who have been preaching to the Canadian government that “what makes a country prosperous is not investment in science and technology,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Elsevier: The beginning of the end?

Posted on May 5, 2012 by

I’ll admit, I got some satisfaction out of telling the editor of the “Journal of Functional Analysis” last week that I will not referee the paper he had sent me because I am boycotting everything Elsevier. I was less thrilled … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Anyone for a Canadian “Golden Goose Award”?

Posted on April 27, 2012 by

Are you old enough to remember the heyday of the late Senator William Proxmire “Golden Fleece awards” given to so called “wasteful” science in the US system? Well, luckily my science policy soulmate, Paul Dufour, claims that he is, and he … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Computer Science in the world of Gatorade and Disney

Posted on April 24, 2012 by

“Math and computer science are hard. Why bother?” read the caption, which appeared in the latest Forbes Magazine. The article entitled, “University of Florida Eliminates Computer Science Department, Increases Athletic Budgets. Hmm,” describes Dean Abernathy’s restructuring plan for the College of Engineering. “Any faculty … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2012 federal budget: “We in Canada have yet to learn, so it seems”

Posted on March 31, 2012 by

My friend had called from Ottawa right after the budget lock-up to “re-assure me” that the three research councils did OK. The AUCC president, Paul Davidson, had also issued a press release offering praise for “investments (that) will preserve current levels of … Continue reading →

Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments