Annual Report 2005 - Fields Institute - University of Toronto

John R. Gardner
THESE PAGES SURVEY THE WIDE AND GROWING VARIETY
of scientific activity generated and supported by the Fields
Institute. The Institute is reaching out and impacting
mathematics across Canada in an ever increasing number
of ways that in turn are responsible for the growing recognition
of its stature.
At the annual general meeting a year ago the membership
approved changes to the Institute’s by-laws that reshaped
our Board of Directors, and elected a Board under those
new by-laws. I am pleased to report that the new arrangement
has worked exceedingly well. The Director and I have
been impressed with the strengthened focus on the Institute
brought to bear by the Board, and with the excellent
working relationships developed among the members of the
Board.
It was also one year ago that the Director’s responsibilities
were transferred from Ken Davidson to Barbara Keyfitz.
Barbara very quickly grasped the reins of the strong organization
that Ken left in place, and through her role at the
Institute is leaving an imprint on mathematics in Canada.
Life continues to move on, however, and Tom Salisbury,
who has contributed very strongly to the Institute as
Deputy Director, will be leaving next summer to become
President of the Canadian Mathematical Society. In antici-
M e s s a g e f r o m t h e
C h a i r o f t h e B o a r d
pation of Tom’s departure, a search is now underway for his
replacement.
The good news in the financial statements forming part of
this annual report is that the Institute has benefited from a
small increase in revenues. In addition the operating statement
shows there has been an increase in the proportion of
revenues going directly into the support of scientific activities.
On the negative side, the Institute spent slightly more
in total than the revenues received. While these expenditures
were made in support of an enriched and heightened
level of activity, they did diminish the Institute’s surplus.
Obviously that imbalance cannot continue.
The bulk of the Institute’s funding comes either directly
or indirectly courtesy of government. While we have every
reason to believe that at both the provincial and federal
level even greater benefits would flow from increased
activity at Fields, we also recognize that the private sector
benefits in a variety of ways from the Institute. Accordingly
it is only reasonable to expect the private sector of our community
to meet some of our resource needs.
At the end of 2004 the Institute launched its first annual
giving campaign. The effort generated more revenue than
was anticipated, and this initiative will be repeated in the
future. The Institute is also studying the prospects of a
Fields Institute 2005 ANNUAL REPORT 4