Banff-based math hub gets $12.8M in grants

Amid a U.S. immigration crackdown, a cash injection into a Banff-based mathematics hub with global reach highlights Canada’s worldly welcome, a federal cabinet minister said Friday.

Grants worth $12.8 million will propel work at the Banff International Research Station (BIRS), which enables the research of 2,000 thinkers from 60 countries.

With nearly $7.5 million of that coming from the provincial and federal governments, Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr said it shows Canada’s commitment to both immigration and science.

“Canada is well-positioned to acquire talent from all over the world,” he said at the University of Calgary.

“We need immigration in this country to grow the middle class and a knowledge-based economy … it ensures we have the best and brightest to help ensure we go forward.

“Canada is an open and understanding society.”

The U.S. National Science Foundation is contributing another $5.1 million along with $250,000 from the Mexican government.

Collaboration among scientists at BIRS fuels research into areas ranging from clean energy technology, climate change, computers and cell biology.

The 15-year-old endeavour has attracted so much interest, a partnership hub has been established in Mexico’s Oaxaca State.

BIRS gives Canada a prime place at the table in the world of math, said Dr. Clifton Cunningham, the centre’s events organizer.

“Canada is a serious player in mathematics in no small part to BIRS,” he said.

“Canadians meet these important people here and present their work to the world — it’s absolutely crucial in being taken seriously.”

Its work has attracted overwhelming interest from the global mathematics community, said Dr. Nassif Ghoussoub, BIRS scientific director. “The station has been so successful, we’ve been getting hundreds of applications from around the world, and we’ve had to refuse many wonderful proposals,” he said.

Ghoussoub said BIRS officials are looking forward to a brainstorming session next week to improve collaboration between the sciences.

The grants are one way to propel research toward practical applications that can benefit sectors like forestry, agriculture and health care, said Cameron Westhead, NDP MLA for Banff-Cochrane.