Grant: Discovery Institutes Support Grants

An overview of BIRS. The Banff International Research Station (BIRS) is a research infrastructure dedicated to all aspects of mathematical sciences, including pure and applied math, computer science, statistics, physics, biology, data science and their myriad synergies. A cherished meeting place for scientists, educators and scholars, BIRSs intense and immersive programs in all areas of theoretical and applied mathematical sciences have acquired global distinction as incubators of transformative ideas and breakthroughs at the frontiers of research. Its unique resources foster an environment that promotes creativity, innovation and exchange of knowledge. Since its inception in 2003, BIRS has expanded into 4 centres, and maintains a presence in 3 different countries (2 in Canada, 1 in Mexico and 1 in China). The applicant in this proposal is the primary BIRS institute in Banff, Alberta, located within the world-famous Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Supported by four government agencies (Canada, US, Alberta and Mexico), this institute hosts more than 2000 visitors every year, with representation from more than 50 different countries, in 60 programs ranging over all sub-areas of the mathematical sciences. BIRS programming reaches far beyond the traditional model of workshops and conferences; it builds bridges between academia, industry and government, with lasting impact on the scientific landscape.Benefits to Canada: topical and timely programming. Over the next 5 years, BIRS plans to fulfill and in fact exceed its mission to facilitate mathematical innovation and discovery at the highest international level. By migrating all its standard offerings to the hybrid platform, BIRS will expand its capacity, access and geographical reach manifold, while supporting sustainable scholarship and promoting collaborative research and cross-disciplinary synergy. But we plan to do more! The funding cycle of this proposal begins at an unprecedented time in our history, when the world is trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic, restart flagging economies, predict and preempt future crises of a similar nature. Climate change and resulting erosion of biodiversity pose an imminent threat to our way of life. Through the BIRS Now! series, BIRS will dedicate extra resources for multi-faceted discourse on timely topics like decarbonization, clean energy solutions, vaccine development, biomanufacturing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, blockchain and digital identity, BIRS will be a major player in understanding and solving the big problems that face us. It will showcase exciting breakthroughs, disseminate knowledge on topics that demand rapid response from research, and position itself as an innovation hub aligned with Canadas science and technology goals.Training and mentorship of highly qualified personnel. Research trainees are key architects of scientific progress. Their fresh perspectives are essential for scientific breakthroughs, but finding employment opportunities commensurate with quantitative skills is a common challenge. BIRS will meet its mandate of attracting, showcasing and nurturing talent through undergraduate and graduate summer schools, K-12 math camps and dedicated programming for students, teachers and early-career researchers. Starting 2022, every standard BIRS event is required to have a training and mentorship component. There will be opportunities for post-event support, academia-industry collaborations with a focus on recruitment opportunities in emerging directions, commercialization and entrepreneurship for young innovators. All talks will be video-recorded and livestreamed for public access.Equity, diversity and inclusion. BIRS has taken significant steps in ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in all its programming. All program proposals are required to demonstrate diversity along multiple axes (beyond gender, race and ethnicity) before they are accepted, not merely in their participant list, but als