Partners of The Banff Centre  
birs-bridges

Banff International Research Station
for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS)

“These people are really among the world's leading mathematicians, scientists and researchers. This is specifically geared to bring the best people from around the world to Banff. They are the crème de la crème. So many opportunities can evolve from this — partnerships, collaborations. While we talk a lot about the brain drain, this is such a splendid opportunity for brain gain.”

— Mary E. Hofstetter
President and CEO of The Banff Centre

BIRS Logo

What is BIRS?

Modeled after one of the most successful mathematical institutes in the world, Germany’s Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut, the Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is the only think tank of its kind in North America. It is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction and the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the mathematical sciences and with related sciences and industry.

Mandate and Funding

The BIRS mandate is to embrace all aspects of the mathematical and statistical sciences from the most fundamental work on the great problems of algebra, number theory, geometry, and analysis to modern pure and applied mathematics; theoretical and applied statistics; mathematical physics; financial and industrial mathematics; the mathematics of information technology and computer science; and bio-mathematics.

Funding is provided by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), the Alberta Science Research Authority (ASRA), and Mexico's National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT).

BIRS at The Banff Centre

The Banff Centre is proud to be the host site for BIRS. Each year, hundreds of top international academics, scientists, and researchers make the Centre their home, introducing another level of creative and imaginative people into The Banff Centre’s rich and fertile environment. The presence of BIRS enables The Banff Centre to enhance research capacity in a new frontier and help develop the careers of young researchers both in North America and around the world. It provides opportunities for unique synergies as well as possibilities for a new renaissance between mathematics and arts.

BIRS is housed in its own building (Corbett Hall) which allows mathematical scientists a secluded environment, complete with accommodation and board and the necessary facilities for uninterrupted research activities in a variety of formats.

Contact Information

For additional information visit www.birs.ca or contact:

BIRS Programme Coordinator
1933 West Mall
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6T 1Z2

Phone: 604.822.1694
Email: birs@birs.ca

Communications Department
The Banff Centre
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, Alberta
Canada T1L 1H5
Phone: 403.762.6475
E-mail: communications@banffcentre.ca

SOCIAL Networking

Share this page.

Site Feedback     Privacy Policy (FOIP)     © 2011 The Banff Centre