Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies

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The Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (PWIAS) was founded in 1991 and was a research institute at the University of British Columbia. It supported basic research through collaborative, interdisciplinary initiatives. [1] The institute brought together UBC scholars with researchers from around the world "to work together on innovative research, develop new thinking that is beyond disciplinary boundaries, and engage in intellectual risk-taking." [1] The institute had a varied program of scholars in residence, visiting scholars, distinguished professorship, multiple speaker series, and major special events.

Contents

UBC announced3 that PWIAS programming was discontinued on August 31, 2023. [2] It was dis-established by the UBC Senate in April 2024. [3]

History

In 1991, Vancouver property developer Peter Wall donated 6.5 million shares of the Wall Financial Corporation (at the time, it was worth CAD$15 million and the largest private donation received by the University of British Columbia [4] ) to fund the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced studies, which had been conceived by Wall and then UBC President David Strangway. [5] [6] Strangway was quoted as saying, "Peter realized that there was an opportunity to create a university-based institute for advanced research which doesn't exist anywhere else. He made it clear from the outset that the money had to be used to generate new ideas and initiatives that wouldn't happen otherwise." [6] As of March 2007, the market value of the shares stood at CAD$48 million. [7] Also in 1994, the university dedicated a CAD$10 million Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies Endowment Fund to the institute. [8]

The institute began active operations in 1994 with the appointments of UBC Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Michael Smith (1932–2000), and Prof. Raphael Amit, then director of UBC's W. Maurice Young Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Research Centre, [9] as Peter Wall Distinguished Professors. [6] The institute's first full-time director was Kenneth MacCrimmon from 1996 to 2002. [6] [10] The institute acquired its own facilities at the Leon & Thea Koerner University Centre in 1999. [11] [12] [13] [14] In 2002, the institute appointed as its new Peter Wall Distinguished Professor Dr. Brett Finlay, who teaches in the department of biochemistry & molecular biology, the department of microbiology & immunology, and at the Finlay Lab at the Michael Smith Laboratories at UBC, and whose research led to the developments of vaccines for SARS [15] and E. coli. [16] [17] [18] [19]

The institute was a member of University-Based Institutes of Advanced Study (UBIAS) network and hosted its International Conference on September 17–19, 2013. [20] It concluded Memoranda of Understanding with the Collège de France in 2008, the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) in 2009, and the TUM Institute for Advanced Study in 2010. [21] According to Chris McGill, who was assistant to the director from 1999 to 2004, [22] The Institute was not modelled on a particular centre or institute. The individuals involved in establishing the Peter Wall Institute and in developing its programs looked at a number of different models. The Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Study & Conference Center at Lake Como, [23] the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico, and the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford were some of the facilities that were considered. By trying to adapt elements from each of these centres and institutes to the particular mandate of the Peter Wall Institute we have created a new and original form of research institute." [8]

The most recent director of the institute was Dr. Philippe Tortell, a professor in the Departments of Botany and Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia. [24] Dr. Tortell resigned in November 2018 in protest against directives from the board of trustees, which he viewed as "wholly inconsistent with its mission and mandate" [25] [26] [27]

Programs

The institute's programs included:

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies: About". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  2. "PWIAS programming has been discontinued on August 31st, 2023". University of British Columbia. 2023-08-31. Archived from the original on 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  3. Chaudhry, Aisha (2024-04-18). "Senate Summed up: Senators disestablish the Peter Wall Institute and discuss UBC's budget". The Ubyssey . Archived from the original on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  4. McIntrye, Greg (1991-04-12), "UBC hits jackpot", The Province , p. 7, ProQuest   267402561
  5. "UBC donation", Financial Post, Toronto, p. 4, 1991-04-12, ProQuest   441209875
  6. 1 2 3 4 Ker, Charles (1996-12-12). "Wall Institute to meld best minds in research". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  7. The UBC Endowment: A Foundation for Excellence (PDF), University of British Columbia, 2007, p. 7
  8. 1 2 "UBC Think Tank". The BCB Communicator. 9 (1). Fall 2002.
  9. "W. Maurice Young Centre for Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Research". UBC Sauder School of Business. Archived from the original on 2024-06-06.
  10. "Annual Report 2002-2003" (PDF). Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-09. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  11. "Leon & Thea Koerner University Centre (formerly the Faculty Club)". Archived from the original on 2024-12-10. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  12. "1999 to bring new life to former faculty club". University of British Columbia. 1998-06-11. Archived from the original on 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  13. "University Centre set for meeting of minds". University of British Columbia. 1999-03-04. Archived from the original on 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  14. Bains, Camille (March 12, 1999). "UBC Faculty Club gets new name". The Vancouver Sun .
  15. Graeme Smith (2003-12-01). "SARS vaccines stockpiled". The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on 2022-11-04. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  16. Fayerman, Pamela (November 26, 2003). "E. coli vaccine goes to market". The Vancouver Sun .
  17. "Brett Finlay – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2016-05-30. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  18. "14", UBC's Top Honour Goes to Microbe Fighter, UBC Reports, vol. 48, University of British Columbia, 2002-12-05 [2002-12-06], archived from the original on 2018-05-18, retrieved 2016-06-01
  19. Fayerman, Pamela (November 20, 2002). "UBC awards top honour to E. coli vaccine researcher". The Vancouver Sun .
  20. "UBIAS Conference – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  21. "International Partnerships – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2016-05-30. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  22. "Annual Report 2003-2004" (PDF). Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  23. The Bellagio Center, Rockefeller Foundation, archived from the original on 2020-03-31
  24. "Director Philippe Tortell". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  25. "PWIAS Director Philippe Tortell announces his resignation". Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies. 2018-11-20. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  26. Professor Philippe Tortell (2018-11-21). "Why I am resigning from the directorship of the Wall institute". Piece of Mind (Nassif Ghoussoub's blog). Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  27. Professor Philippe Tortell (2018-11-20), untitled (letter of resignation) (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-27, retrieved 2018-11-23
  28. The UBC Endowment: A Foundation for Excellence (PDF), University of British Columbia, 2007, p. 8, retrieved 2008-05-27
  29. "Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada", Governor General of Canada, July 24, 2006, retrieved 2008-05-27
  30. King, Anna (December 4, 2002), "This Prof Could Save Your Life: E. coli Research Results in Prestigious Award", The Manitoban, archived from the original on 2008-05-30, retrieved 2008-05-26
  31. Fayerman, Pamela (November 26, 2003), "UBC Produces E. coli Vaccine", The Vancouver Sun, p. B.3, ProQuest   242393378
  32. "Professor Derek Gregory appointed Peter Wall Distinguished Professor". 2011-03-17.
  33. "Janis Sarra – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". pwias.ubc.ca. 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  34. "Distinguished Visiting Professor", Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, 2016-07-25, retrieved 2016-11-04
  35. "Scientist J. Craig Venter says synthetic cells create the potential to solve huge problems". 2011-04-27.
  36. "Wall Scholars – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". pwias.ubc.ca. 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  37. "International Visiting Research Scholar Program – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". pwias.ubc.ca. 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  38. "International Research Roundtable Program – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". pwias.ubc.ca. 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  39. "French Scholars Lecture Series – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". pwias.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  40. "International Exchanges – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". pwias.ubc.ca. 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  41. "Wall Colloquia Abroad – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". pwias.ubc.ca. 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  42. "Theme Development Workshop – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". pwias.ubc.ca. 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  43. "Arts Based Initiatives – Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies". pwias.ubc.ca. 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2016-11-04.

49°16′08″N123°15′26″W / 49.26890°N 123.25715°W / 49.26890; -123.25715