The Fields Institute Turns Twenty-Five 170725 Final book with covers | Page 46

24
James Arthur
There was considerable opposition to the idea.
A
number of mathematicians, especially from outside Ontario,
felt that Canada could not support more than one major
institute. There was also concern that if the institute was
not successful, it would impose burdens on mathematicians
in the province that could undermine their ability to do
mathematical research. There was even some opposition to
the proposed name of the institute, especially its promotion
on the basis of implicit ties to “the mathematical equivalent
of the Nobel Prize.” As an aside, I think it is fair to say that the
Fields Medal today, with its continuing upper age limitation
of forty years, has regained some of its original standing as a
celebration of the future vitality of mathematics.
Nevertheless,
Shadwick was unshakable in his
determination to bring the institute into being. His countless
interventions with government, universities, scientists, and
members of the broader public were at last rewarded. The
Fields Institute was established in 1992, with Jerrold Marsden
serving as its founding Director. It was temporarily based at
the University of Waterloo, with the understanding that a
permanent home would be determined later.
A Permanent Home
My most vivid memory of these early years is connected
with the process for choosing a permanent home. When I
returned to Canada as professor at the University of Toronto
in 1979, I was somewhat surprised at the rivalry among
mathematics programs at the various universities in Ontario.
In retrospect, this was perhaps an understandable feeling
among departments making their way in the rapidly expanding
world of international mathematics. Nowadays, I think that
Ontario (and Canadian) mathematics departments see each
other more as allies than competitors.