Tag Archives: research

The Learning & Research committee of the UBC Board: What a difference a year makes (I)

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Ghoussoub

“You had demanded to chair the Learning and Research Committee,” the Chair of the Board proclaimed at last week’s open meeting of a Board’s committee. You bet I did, I replied, “because the reason I ran for the Board one more time … Continue reading →

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Why I am voting against the tuition increases for domestic students

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Ghoussoub

During my previous two terms on the UBC Board of Governors from 2008 to 2014, I always voted in support of the administration’s maximum government-allowable 2% increases in tuition fees for domestic students. But things are different this time. The … Continue reading →

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NSERC corrects a mistake, but many remain unaddressed

Posted on October 6, 2018 by Ghoussoub

No, I am not talking about the sudden and probably more consequential recent change in NSERC’s leadership, but about an accounting mistake. Yes, it looks minor, but it speaks volume. As I mentioned in a previous post, I resigned last … Continue reading →

Posted in Banff International Research Station, R&D Policy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is the BIRS programme multiple disciplinary enough for NSERC?

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Ghoussoub

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 →

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Overhauling NSERC is a long overdue national priority (I)

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Ghoussoub

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 →

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Fettering unfettered research funding: The NSERC ways

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Ghoussoub

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 →

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The Problem with Naylor’s Panel Report

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Ghoussoub

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 →

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Canada has two ministers of Science, yet Budget 2017 barely mentions Science

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Ghoussoub

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 →

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UBC’s free fall in university rankings

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Ghoussoub

University rankings may be questionable. Their evaluation criteria may be flawed or unrepresentative. They may be based on false or manipulated data provided by some institutions. They can even, occasionally, be bought. But the reality is that they do matter. … Continue reading →

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Budget 2014 is nothing short of a paradigm shift for Canada’s research and innovation

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Ghoussoub

The substantial investment in university research that the Canadian government announced today is not the only story in Budget 2014. A bigger story may be the pivotal moment and the policy shift that it represents for this government on a … Continue reading →

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Blame it on BIRS!

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Ghoussoub

Where have you been? How come you haven’t been blogging lately, wrote a “Piece of Mind” loyalist. Why weren’t you at the PDE seminar, a colleague inquired. “On attend ton papier avec impatience,” wrote the editor of a special volume three … Continue reading →

Posted in Banff International Research Station | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

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

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Ghoussoub

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 →

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Obsession

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Ghoussoub

“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 →

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Computer Science in the world of Gatorade and Disney

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Ghoussoub

“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 →

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Call your VP-Research before Friday the 13th at the Tri-council!

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Ghoussoub

“My Mathematics” is going well lately. It is not always the case, so blogging has taken the backseat. It is unfortunate because much needs to be communicated before tomorrow’s meeting in Ottawa between the VPs-Research of Canada’s universities and Tri-council officials. … Continue reading →

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Everything you wanted to know about GERD, BERD, GovERD and HERD

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Ghoussoub

The UK department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) released its annual science, engineering and technology statistics, including a good deal of data on how much the G7 countries spend on research and development (R&D). Canada is fifth out of seven in the … Continue reading →

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