Celebrating 30 Years of PIMS
On March 14—Pi Day—the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) begins celebrating 30 years of advancing the mathematical sciences.
For three decades, PIMS has supported research, collaboration, and training across Western Canada and beyond. By bringing together mathematical scientists from diverse fields and institutions through conferences, workshops, and research programs, we have helped foster new ideas, strengthen communities, and build a network across Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest that supports collaboration among researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and emerging scholars.
Our Collaborative Research Groups and Research Networks build partnerships across academia, industry, and government to advance both fundamental and applied mathematics—from topology, geometry, and number theory to artificial intelligence, mathematical biology, quantum science, and climate research.
Reflecting on Three Decades of Impact
Throughout the coming months, PIMS will highlight stories from across our community—featuring the people, partnerships, and programs that have shaped the institute over the past 30 years.
These stories will reflect the breadth of the mathematical sciences and the collaborative spirit that defines the PIMS network.
From supporting early-career researchers to connecting mathematical scientists across disciplines and institutions, PIMS continues to play a unique role in strengthening the mathematical sciences ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
While this anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on past achievements, it also marks the beginning of the next chapter.
PIMS remains committed to supporting mathematical discovery, developing new talent, and building strong and connected research communities.
We invite our community, partners, and collaborators to join us in celebrating this milestone year as we look forward to the next 30 years of mathematical impact.
What Defines Us
For 30 years, PIMS has strengthened Canada’s mathematical sciences ecosystem — advancing research, training the next generation of scholars, and connecting institutions across regions and disciplines. We provide the foundation for ambitious research programs, partnerships, and education initiatives.
As a distributed institute, we span over ten member universities across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Washington State — connecting world-class researchers and creating vibrant research communities.
Since 1996, PIMS has helped build the infrastructure that makes this work possible:
• 42 Collaborative Research Groups (CRGs) and 2 PIMS Research Networks (PRNs)
• 450+ postdoctoral positions supported since 1997
• 6,750+ scientific events bringing researchers together
We also house the PIMS–CNRS International Research Laboratory (IRL), established in 2007 — the first of its kind in Canada. This partnership helps build and strengthen collaboration between the Canadian and French mathematical sciences communities.
Through CRGs, workshops and conferences, postdoctoral training, network-wide courses, K–12 outreach, and industry initiatives like M2PI, PIMS brings people and ideas together.