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Author Archives: Ghoussoub
Is the BIRS programme multiple disciplinary enough for NSERC?
The programs of the Banff International Research Station (BIRS) in Banff and Oaxaca are supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Canada’s Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Mexico’s Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT), and the … Continue reading
Posted in Banff International Research Station, R&D Policy
Tagged Alberta, Conacyt, CRCC, NSERC, NSF, Oberwolfach, research, Tom Brzustowski
1 Comment
Calling on #UBC to step up and support our alumni Loujain Al-Hathloul (Arts, 2014)
29 May 2018 Lindsay Gordon, Chancellor, UBC Santa J, Ono, President and vice-Chancellor, UBC Dear Mr Gordon and Dr Ono: “Pursuing excellence in research, learning and engagement to foster global citizenship and advance a sustainable and just society across British … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
104 Comments
Reboot NSERC by engaging and empowering the researchers it serves
I described in a previous post some of the impediments to NSERC’s ability to optimize government’s investments in support of scientific research and innovation. Namely, how its rigid and insular operational structure hinders its capabilities to partner internationally; to coordinate … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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President Arvind Gupta on the essence of the academic mission…and an endorsement
Originally posted on Commentaria:
By Professor Arvind Gupta Dear colleagues, As many of you are aware, there is a by-election for a faculty representative to the Board of Governors. This is an important election for UBC Vancouver faculty, and I feel…
Posted in Uncategorized
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Why am I running again to represent the faculty on UBC’s Board of Governors?
A good question indeed. My official statement below (restricted to 250 words) tells a part of the story but not all. I was personally stunned, upon rereading it, by how many times I call for “refocusing, re-establishing, reversing, returning, recovering … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors
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Overhauling NSERC is a long overdue national priority (I)
With an annual budget of $1.1 billion, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is the agency through which the federal government funds advanced post-secondary research in science and engineering. Thousands of Canadian researchers rely on it, … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy
Tagged AARMS, BIRS, CANSSI, CRM, Fields, Innovation, Mathematics, Mexico, NSERC, NSF, Oaxaca, PIMS, research, science, Statistics
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Fettering unfettered research funding: The NSERC ways
Last week, I resigned from a committee that is supposed to liaise between NSERC and Canada’s Mathematics and Statistics communities. The reason? An unsettling lack of transparency, shoddy consultation, and poor decision-making by NSERC’s management in handling recent government budget … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy
Tagged Harper-Goodyear, Mario Pinto, Mathematics, Naylor report, NSERC, research, Trudeau, Unfettered Research Funding
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Statistical science is everywhere
By Professor Nancy Reid, OC, FRSC On Saturday, April 7, The Globe and Mail published a long article on advances in counselling and therapy around mental health—“Rethinking therapy: how 45 questions can revolutionize mental health”. The punch line? A new … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy
Tagged Alan Turing, Data Science, Globe and Mail, Statistical Science, University of Toronto
1 Comment
Did you say, Father’s day?
Last Monday, I wasn’t feeling great, so I asked a good friend of mine to come over and give me company, which he promptly did. Yes, this may be uncommon in this part of the world, but both he and … Continue reading
Posted in Honouring friends
2 Comments
The Problem with Naylor’s Panel Report
The report of Naylor’s panel reviewing Canadian Science is out. It is an incredibly eloquent “plaidoyer” for basic research both in terms of its role, past and present, in the advancement of society. It is of course music to the ears … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy
Tagged CERC, CFERF, CFI, CRC, Kirsty Duncan, Naylor, research, science, SIF, Tri-councils
3 Comments
Berdahl vs. Potter: The Tale of Two “Globe and Mail” Editorials
Oct. 22, 2015, Globe and Mail Editorial re: Jennifer Berdahl: “It’s far from clear, though, that her blog post was an exercise in academic freedom. Her post was one remark about one unexplained kerfuffle in a university’s administration, not a piece … Continue reading
Budget 2017, Naylor’s review, and the Mathematical Sciences in Canada
James Colliander, Director of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) Nassif Ghoussoub, Director of the Banff International Research Station (BIRS) Ian Hambleton, Director of the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences (Fields) Luc Vinet, Directeur du Centre de Recherches Mathématiques (CRM) The … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
Tagged CANSSI, CRM, Fields, Fields medal, Maurice Lamontagne, MSRI, Naylor, NRC, NSERC, science, Trudeau
3 Comments
Canada has two ministers of Science, yet Budget 2017 barely mentions Science
University researchers across Canada are stunned and puzzled. What happened to Justin Trudeau’s Liberals promises to undo the damage that the Harper years inflicted on the nation’s research capacity? The Liberals campaigned to end the “war on Science,” yet they … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds, R&D Policy
Tagged BIRS, CANSSI, CIFAR, cihr, CRM, Fields PIMS, Harper, Morneau, Naylor report, NIH, NSERC, research, science, Trudeau
2 Comments
The Latest Attack on Academic Freedom in Canada: McGill Turns Away from Controversy and Provocation
Originally posted on Commentaria:
? “While the Institute itself is non-partisan, MISC is no stranger to debate and controversy.”—https://mcgill.ca/misc/about “It is not a role to provoke, but to promote good discussion.”—McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier as quoted in The Globe and…
Posted in Board of Governors, Op-eds
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Salient points of Daniel Heath Justice’s letter of resignation from the UBC Sexual Assault Policy Committee in response to Furlong’s reinstatement
Originally posted on Commentaria:
Dear Professor Ono, I read with dismay the announcement yesterday that John Furlong has been reinstated as a UBC fundraising speaker. … There were many responsible and compassionate ways this matter might have been handled that…
Posted in Uncategorized
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Shaking up the UBC Board of Governors
Month after month of bad press in local and national media outlets didn’t do it. Petition after petition asking for transparency and accountability from the governors and the managerial class didn’t do it. Eight hundred faculty members voting non-confidence in … Continue reading
Interview with a mathematician: Nassif Ghoussoub
Originally posted on The Intrepid Mathematician:
Nassif Ghoussoub is the founder and current director of the Banff International Research Station, the founding director of the Pacific Institute of Mathematics, and the co-founder of MITACS NCE. On top of all that,…
Posted in Banff International Research Station, Honouring friends, R&D Policy
Tagged Arvind Gupta, Beit Chebab, BIRS, CFREF, CMO, Conacyt, Mathematics, Mitacs, Nigel Lloyd, NSERC, NSF, Oaxaca, Ono, Order of Canada, PIMS, Riemann Hypothesis, science, Tom Brzustowski, UBC
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About Naylor’s panel roundtable regarding Big Science in a Canadian Context
For those not paying attention, David Naylor is leading “Canada’s Fundamental Science Review Panel” which is looking at the state of fundamental science in Canada. Last week, I had a chance to participate at a roundtable of experts in Calgary, … Continue reading
Posted in Banff International Research Station, R&D Policy
Tagged Art Carty, Art MacDonald, BIRS, Canadian Light Source, CERC, CFI, CFREF, Chief Science Advisor, Compute Canada, Jenkins, NRC, SNOLAB, Triumf
1 Comment
Research funding of Mathematics and Statistics in Canada
A submission from the NSERC Mathematics and Statistics Liaison group, to the Review of Federal Support to Research and Development, on research funding of mathematics and statistics in Canada. 1. Mathematics and Statistics in our research system; revolution, or a … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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The Submission of BIRS and Canada’s Mathematical Sciences Institutes to Canada’s Fundamental Science Review
The Mathematical Sciences are the foundation of any advanced research ecosystem, and Canada’s mathematical sciences institutes have been instrumental in supporting this ecosystem. They do so by providing scientific leadership, by developing coherent national strategies for mathematical and statistical discovery … Continue reading
Posted in Banff International Research Station, R&D Policy
Tagged AARMS, BIRS, CANSSI, CRM, Fields, Mathematical Sciences Institutes, Naylor Panel, PIMS
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Piece of Mind 