Unique Global Centre for Theoretical Physics Opens Doors
DISCOVERIES KEY TO DRIVING INNOVATION
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, is a uniquely independent research centre attracting scientists from around the world, with two Nobel Prize winners on its Scientific Advisory Committee. Discoveries in theoretical physics help drive innovation, according to Mike Lazaridis, founder of the Institute and president and co-CEO of Research in Motion (RIM).He says physicists’ understanding of how nature works at its most fundamental level is responsible for the technology that supports modern society, including radio, television, computers, MRIs, lasers, fibre optics, semiconductors and a whole host of other systems and devices.
Discussions about the mysteries of quantum mechanics and foundational physics fuelled his interest when he was a student at the University of Waterloo. He began to dream about creating a place where scientists could devote themselves to unlocking other forces of nature.
Lazaridis later founded RIM, and following the success of products such as its BlackBerry wireless platform, he had a chance to turn his dream into a reality.
He committed $100-million of his personal wealth to the venture. Fellow RIM executives Doug Fregin and Jim Balsillie contributed another $10 million each. The federal government and Province of Ontario contributed a combined total of $55 million and the City of Waterloo participated by providing the land for the new research facility.
Perimeter Institute was officially launched in temporary quarters in the fall of 2000, and research operations began in October 2001 with a core scientific staff of nine internationally recognized scientists, expanding to 24 in just over a year. It now has 39 resident researchers on staff, including long-term researchers, post-doctoral fellows, associate members and long-term visitors.
At the official opening of the Institute’s new research complex this past fall, Prime Minister Paul Martin called it a world-class facility and said he believes that Waterloo is going to become one of the major world centres in terms of theoretical physics. He went on to state, “I think the Perimeter Institute stands for the kind of Canada we want to build.”
The Institute focuses on foundational non-directed research, giving scientists the opportunity to do the kind of theoretical work that can lead to discoveries.
Einstein’s legacy is a good example. This year (2005) marks the 100th anniversary of three famous publications by Einstein that helped shape 20th century physics. His theories continue to have impact on life today in more ways than many people realize. One theory about space and time now plays a role in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS), used to track people and vehicles.
Einstein’s theories showed that ‘time’ is relative and that it is affected by both gravity and motion. For example, time moves more slowly for someone who is travelling at great speed compared to someone standing still. Today, this information is crucial to the design and proper functioning of the Global Positioning System. Clocks onboard orbiting satellites in space must compensate for a different rate of time down on the earth in order to accurately locate people and vehicles.
So what other forces and mysteries of nature are out there? Researchers at Perimeter Institute are trying to find that out on several fronts including superstring theory, foundations of quantum theory, quantum gravity and quantum information theory—a discipline that brings the mysterious, quirky nature of atoms and sub-atomic particles together with the ideas underlying computer science. Discoveries in some of these areas are already yielding results in the promising world of quantum computing and quantum cryptography.
Quantum cryptography is a form of communication that, by its very nature, is totally secure. Currently, when you send e-mails over the internet, it’s technically possible for others to eavesdrop without being detected. Quantum cryptography, on the other hand, uses weird quantum properties of our universe that make it impossible for anyone to snoop without being found out. That’s why many people are looking toward the quantum world for the next major form of secure communications—not just for personal internet messages but also for governments and businesses who want absolute security.
The Institute’s Scientific Advisory Committee includes Frank Wilczek, the 2004 Nobel Prize winner in physics, and Sir Anthony Leggett, the 2003 winner. The resident researchers on staff come from Canada, the United States, Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Brazil and other parts of the world.
Howard Burton, Perimeter’s Executive Director, says the Institute attracts international scientists because of the research climate and supporting environment and opportunity to focus on their particular area of research at the highest possible level.
He adds that the Institute takes a collaborative rather than competitive approach to partnerships with the surrounding academic community and research universities across the country to help develop, attract and keep top talent. It has signed memoranda of understanding with 29 universities and institutions in the country, such as the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Toronto, York University, the University of Guelph, Queen’s University, Laurentian University, the University of British Columbia and Dalhousie University.
The Institute’s newly built facility is full of creative workspaces for theoretical research. Scientists have quiet private offices with floor-to-ceiling blackboards for their calculations and a wall with floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking Silver Lake. There are also informal meeting areas and lounges on every floor with coffeemakers, wood-burning fireplaces and comfortable furniture, so that researchers can get together to chat, compare notes, debate and exchange information. Other features include a two storey library, lecture theatre and two seminar rooms.
In addition to its research operations, the Institute offers several outreach programs that connect with the general public, students and teachers. For the public, there are monthly lectures on various topics from top scientists who make abstract ideas accessible in easy-to-understand terms. These talks regularly draw audiences of 500 people or more.
The free Public Lectures are held on the first Wednesday of each month. In addition, the Institute offers informal ‘Black Hole’ drop in sessions on the first Saturday of each month. Everyone is free to stop by and, fuelled by coffee and questions, take part in wide ranging discussions with Perimeter’s experts.
For students, the Institute offers in-class presentations right across the country. Interactive talks, complete with powerpoint animations, inspire students to the mysteries and marvels of space, time and matter. The Institute also offers a two-week summer camp for select high school students from across Canada and around the world. They come to the Institute in Waterloo and work closely with the leading scientists in a mentorship program. There are also workshops for teachers—providing new ways to reach students with cutting-edge ideas. The teacher workshops are offered on-location across North America. The Institute also provides an intense week long version in Waterloo during the summer.
“The teacher, student and public outreach programs are extremely important to Perimeter,” says John Matlock, Director of Communications. “We work very aggressively at making our programs accessible and understandable so that everyone, especially younger generations of people, appreciate the role science plays in society.”
More information about the Institute and its programs is available on its Web site, www.perimeterinstitute.ca
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