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- Head of UBC Mathematics: The end of an era
- Nicole Tomczak-Jaegermann 1945-2022
- UBC Campus Vision 2050, in a word, lacks vision
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- Shiny, happy, oblivious science
- NSERC has lost its bearings … again
- The Learning & Research of the UBC Board of Governors (II)
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- Maurice Sion: 1927 – 2018
- Robert M. Miura: 1938 – 2018
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Author Archives: Ghoussoub
Bringing smart people to Canada can only make us better
Can we entice India’s brightest young academic stars to do their graduate work at McGill or UBC instead of Stanford or UCLA? Stephen Toope (who is just back from India where he was heading a delegation of Canadian universities) and … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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Henry Yu: Why Macleans and racism should no longer define Canada
“Our society no longer looks like the beer drinking all-white camaraderie of a Molson Canadian commercial. Perhaps it never did, and white supremacy always needed to hide away into reservations and ghettos all those who did not fit into the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Can we convince the US to fund Canadian science?
Yes we can! and even more so with the Obama administration: “We also need to work with our friends around the world. Science, technology, and innovation proceed more rapidly and more cost-effectively when insights, costs, and risks are shared; and … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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Running for a second term on the BoG? Yes I should!
I am finishing my 3-year term representing the faculty on the UBC Board of Governors. The elections of new faculty representatives will start on November 25th. The other faculty rep., Andrew Irvine (from Philosophy) is finishing his second term and … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors
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No Stephen O, the university can never live off its land
Stephen Owen, UBC’s vice-president, external, legal and community relations, is a man of high integrity, credibility, and respect, with whom I agree on most issues. I however, happen to fundamentally disagree with some of his premises in his latest article … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors, UBC Housing Action Plan
Tagged Board of Governors, Stephen Owen, UBC land
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In memoriam: Richard Kane, 1944 – 2010
Richard Kane passed away on October 1, 2010. He was a very dear friend, a friendship that was based on a common purpose of making Canadian Mathematics a major player on the international scene. His distinguished research career, his incredible … Continue reading
As promised in the 2010 federal budget
The government has just announced a six person panel to lead a comprehensive review of all (Canadian) federal programs in support of business R&D (as promised in the 2010 budget). Our own Arvind Gupta (MITACS Director) is on the panel … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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What is Bill 20?
On June 24th, the Government of B.C. passed a new legislation that will have a major impact on UBC’s Vancouver campus. Bill 20 transfers the responsibility for approving land use plans for the bulk of UBC’s Vancouver campus lands from … Continue reading
Posted in Board of Governors, UBC Housing Action Plan
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Recent and future Fields medalists
These photos were taken during a mathematics graduate summer school organised by Wilfrid Gangbo (Geogia Tech) in Benin, Africa during the period June 25-July 04, 2010. Courses were given by Cedric Villani (U. de Paris, who was later awarded the … Continue reading
Posted in Honouring friends
Tagged Cedric Villani, Fields medal, Neil Turok, Stephen Harper, Wilfrid Gangbo
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What a difference a year makes
Last year’s cuts to the research granting councils, though relatively small, were magnified by their inclusion in a so-called “stimulus budget” full of spending increases in other areas. This year, the opposite is true. Funding increases, though relatively small, are … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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Another podium we need to own
Budget 2010 is a good start for Canada to own the podium for beautiful minds Cuts to funding for basic research in last year’s federal budget caused angst and trepidation in the scientific community. Though relatively small, the cuts were … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds
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NSERC sees researchers as out-source labour
NSERC announced two new programs as part of its “Strategies for Partnership and Innovation”. Engage grants are designed to cover direct project costs for up to 6 months and a total of $25,000, and Interaction grants are for $5,000 over three-months to … Continue reading
Welcoming MITACS to UBC
Honorable members of parliament, MLA, Mr. President, Friends and colleagues Yes, I was involved in the founding of MITACS 10 years ago. I had the privilege to have fun doing it with Luc Vinet, Don Dawson, and Steve Halperin. They … Continue reading
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Honouring Nigel Lloyd
Ladies and Gentlemen, Messieurs Dames, Friends of Nigel Lloyd. My name is Nassif Ghoussoub and I am a friend of Nigel Lloyd. Nigel: I have many messages from old friends of yours: Steve, Jacques, Luc, Don, and Arvind. The most … Continue reading
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Obama’s grandstanding for science
…… presents us with a problem but also with opportunities Canada’s establishment is currently engaged in a raging and – in my opinion – healthy debate about the state of R&D in this country, its impact on the new economy … Continue reading
Posted in Op-eds
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Science et recherche : la vidéo qui oppose Sarkozy à Obama
Sarkozy et Obama n’ont pas exactement le même discours sur la recherche. C’est ce qu’un jeune chercheur a voulu démontrer en superposant deux de leurs interventions dans une vidéo postée sur YouTube. Le résultat : un président Obama offensif et remotivant, … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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Obama’s speech to the US National Academy of Sciences
At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science. That support for research is somehow a luxury at a moment defined by necessities. I fundamentally disagree. Science is more essential for our … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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A good old story of “curiosity-driven” research
“…. the great Michael Faraday, one of the giants that helped shape our modern understanding of electricity and magnetism. He was asked by the British Chancellor (Gladstone at the time) about what was the use of this electricity he was … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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Quand j’entends ça! J’ai très très mal
Here is a video link to a famous speech on Research and Innovation by Sarkozy on January 22, 2009. French researchers were so humiliated that they were unified –including those who believed in reforming the system — in rejecting his … Continue reading
Posted in R&D Policy
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PIMS 10th Anniversary
Thanks Ed and thanks Arvind for your generous comments. It is always embarrassing to hear so much praise from two of the most unsung heroes of PIMS. With these two guys, I feel like I am a graduate student with … Continue reading
Posted in Honouring friends
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Piece of Mind 