Tag Archives: suzanne fortier

Berdahl vs. Potter: The Tale of Two “Globe and Mail” Editorials

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Ghoussoub

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 →

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

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Ghoussoub

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 →

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Suzanne Fortier’s last salvo

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Ghoussoub

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 →

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First reactions to the NSERC cuts

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Ghoussoub

On the heels of the cheery press releases of the presidents of NSERC and CIHR regarding the 2012 federal budget, announcements about the fate of various programs are now coming out. They all start with, “As part of the Government of … Continue reading →

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The Physicists debate “the changing role of NSERC’s Discovery program”

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Ghoussoub

First, came the editorial of University of Ottawa Physicist, Béla Joós in last July’s issue of “Physics in Canada”. There, he zeroed in on the heart of the matter, which if you think about it, is mind boggling: “Over the last … Continue reading →

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It may be crunch time for the Presidents of Canada’s Research Councils

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Ghoussoub

The government will continue to make “key investments in science and technology” that are necessary to sustain a “modern competitive economy,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Davos today. He then added, “but we believe that Canada’s less-than-optimal results for those investments is … Continue reading →

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Grade inflation, instability and uncertainty in Discovery Grant competitions

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Ghoussoub

It is reported that in a still embargoed presentation to the 2011 Canadian Mathematical Society meeting in Edmonton, NSERC’s President, Suzanne Fortier, cited “Grade inflation” as one of the factors for the disastrous collapse of grant levels in mathematics in the 2011 Discovery … Continue reading →

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You are not alone!

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Ghoussoub

Yet, that’s exactly what bureaucrats want you to feel. “You are the only one complaining. You are isolating your community…”. That’s what they said when 336 mathematical scientists, 27 Canada Research Chairs and 35 fellows of the Royal Society of Canada wrote NSERC’s President … Continue reading →

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