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Monthly Archives: January 2011
No need for expert reviewers nor NSERC staff: Computer can run new binning system
A colleague –with experience on a selection committee– explains below why the new binning system may be announcing “very good days ahead for bad science”. He makes 3 important points in his message below:
Posted in R&D Policy
2 Comments
No students? Don’t bother apply for Discovery Grant
NSERC Discovery Grants II includes a discussion on the effect of the new “binning system” on the Discovery Grant Program. I have received since many reports and opinions identifying and emphasizing various flaws in the system. There seems to be unanimity … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
2 Comments
NSERC responds (What took you so long?)
NSERC responded today to several of our older posts concerning their programs and policies. You can find their responses in the “Comments section” following the posts in question (listed in reverse chronological order): NSERC’s 3 newest programs NSERC Discovery Grants … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
1 Comment
The R&D expert panel and the $7-billion that won’t buy much
A Government R&D review expert panel is working on figuring out why Canada lags behind many of its peers in capitalizing on research advances despite Ottawa’s $7-billion innovation budget. They are asking for input. Front line researchers are urged to … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy
11 Comments
What happened to the $8-million?
We reported earlier that in the 2010 federal budget, NSERC received a $13 million budget increase, $5-million of which were ear-marked for the Research Partnership Program (RPP). So, what did NSERC do with the remaining $8-million?
Posted in R&D Policy
2 Comments
Israeli-Palestinian Peace: UBC Admin. 1 – AMS 0
Last Saturday I attended a forum on “Building Peace between Israelis and Palestinians” at UBC’s Chan Centre. Kudos to the UBC Administration, and in particular to Stephen Owen, UBC’s Vice-President External and Legal, and his colleagues for organizing such a … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds
2 Comments
Reality check on Canada’s doctoral graduates
First, we graduate too few of them. Secondly, they are snubbed by Canada’s private sector and thirdly, they end up south of the border longing to come back. (Thanks Eddy!)
Posted in R&D Policy
3 Comments
“Concordia tente de calmer le jeu” but the faculty are showing signs of life
The Chair of the Board of Governors of Concordia University, Mr. Peter Kruyt, finally came out of hiding to declare that …. Concordia is aspiring to be one of the best universities in Canada, within 10 years. Fortunately, he didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors
1 Comment
Move over Hilbert, here comes DARPA
Would-be mathematicians learn about David Hilbert’s 23 problems way before they even learn how to ask someone for a first date. Presented by Hilbert at the International Congress of Mathematicians held in Paris in 1900, these problems stimulated mathematical research … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy
1 Comment
“You get the Board you deserve”
What’s happening at Concordia University seems to be a live illustration of what Richard P. Chait was saying yesterday to a gathering of presidents at a Council of Independent Colleges conference in Palm Springs, California.
Posted in Board of Governors
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Before we lose sight of the question at hand
In view of the comments –public and private— about my post regarding the UBC Board’s governance, I am led to further clarify the issue intended to be up for debate. Independently of the individuals involved, the FA letter has triggered … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors
1 Comment
To the memory of two beautiful minds
On January 10, 2010, Sam Roweis, 37, an associate professor at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, jumped to his death from a 16th-floor balcony at his university-owned apartment. Prior to teaching at NYU, Roweis was an associate professor in … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
While UBC’s Board is tested, others’ are running for cover
“Concordia is looking for a new president. Salary is $350G and your chances of having to work out your term are close to zero”, tweeted Paul Wells, … and for La Presse, “Recteurs à Concordia: trois petits tours et puis … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors
1 Comment
Houston, we have a problem … with the UBC governance
The relevance of this blog is being tested earlier than we thought. Are you all wondering why the results of the elections for the 2 faculty representatives on the UBC Board of Governors haven’t been announced, even 3 weeks after … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors
20 Comments
Tips (from Palm Springs) on University leadership and governance
“How many faculty members does it take to change a light bulb?” is a joke that would have gone over well at the senior university administrators meeting held yesterday in … Palm Springs, California. It gets even better in this … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors
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Let’s not make a habit out of this!
The UBC faculty and the UBC Board of Governors have just ratified their collective agreement for 2010-2011. That’s six months after the previous contract had expired on June 30, 2010. I wasn’t the only one surprised by this turn of … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds
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The downhill race between NSERC and CIHR
We have already reported that the success rate for NSERC’s Discovery Grants have fallen from 71 per cent in 2008, to 64 percent in 2009, and to a record-low level of 58 per cent this year. Not to be outdone, … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
11 Comments
Mathematicians’ stress level = 12.780
“Mathematician was listed as second best job in the world in the latest poll based on salary/cushy working conditions …appreciate your life”, texted my daughter from her political science class, this morning.
NSERC’s 3 newest programs
Here are some answers to the questions in yesterday’s post, put in the global context of the granting system. 1. Let’s start with the boring stuff. The three programs are new, though “Frontiers” is newer and just off the … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
5 Comments
The second death of Erwin Schrödinger has been averted
I have blogged in the past about an imminent threat to the Erwin Schrödinger Institute (ESI) in Vienna, Austria. The Austrian Ministry of Science had informed the ESI on November 8, 2010, that the institute’s funding would be terminated on … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
1 Comment
Piece of Mind 