The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences, an international mathematics research facility with headquarters
at UBC, has received unprecedented funding from U.S., Albertan
and Mexican funding agencies totaling nearly $10 million for
the next five years.
The funding is for the Banff International Research Station
for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS), which has
contributed to major breakthroughs in fundamental mathematics,
the development of fuel cell technology, understanding of
the spread of SARS and improvement of math education. The
funding includes:
- $3.1 million (US$2,641,500) from the U.S. National Science
Foundation, the largest NSF award ever received in Canada
- $3.4 million from the Alberta government, based on a recommendation
by the Alberta Science Research Authority
- First-time contribution of $550,000 from CONACYT, Mexico’s
National Science and Technology Council
- $1 million from Mathematics of Information Technology
and Complex Systems, an NCE in support of industrial mathematics
- $1.66 million from the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical
Sciences (PIMS) which has its headquarters at UBC, www.pims.math.ca/About_PIMS
In 2006 BIRS will expand innovative programs including women
in math, math/art interdisciplinary courses, and First Nations
math education workshops.
The Banff facility is administered by PIMS at UBC with the
support of the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary,
the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University.
“This is a tremendous success for Canadian science,”
says PIMS Director Ivar Ekeland. “BIRS has consistently
run programs that emphasize the vitality of mathematics and
its importance for science and technology. This unprecedented
record-level multinational funding validates the importance,
vigor and applicability of the research conducted at BIRS.”
“The substantial contributions by the Alberta and the
US governments coupled with Mexico’s pledge for full
participation and direct support of BIRS, represent a remarkable
and groundbreaking North American collaboration in support
of the world’s mathematical sciences and all their manifestations
in science, technology, and society,” says BIRS Scientific
Director Nassif Ghoussoub.
Since its 2003 launch, over 6,500 researchers from 1,100
institutions in 52 countries have conducted research at BIRS.
For more information, visit www.pims.math.ca/birs.
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