The Fields Institute Turns Twenty-Five 170725 Final book with covers | Page 53

CHAPTER 7 The Site Selection Committee Peter Lancaster “... the Fields Institute—and the other mathematical institutes of Canada—have provided, and continue to provide, an extraordinary stimulus to research in the mathematical sciences across the country.” My experiences with the Fields Institute go back to the year before 1992 when it was founded. As I recall, the Government of Ontario announced a competition among the major universities of the province to provide a home for the fledgling Institute. The winner of the competition would serve as the permanent host. Applications were received by the provincial government and an adjudication committee known as the Site Selection Committee was formed. I had the fascinating task of serving on the Committee. Its members were: 1. Peter Nicholson, Chair of the Site Selection Committee, Bank of Nova Scotia