A Nexus for Mathematical Thought
Founded in 1992, The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences is an international center for mathematics. Initially located at the University of Waterloo, it moved in 1995 to a purpose-built facility on the University of Toronto's St. George campus. The institute is an independent non-profit with connections to 20 Ontario universities. Its core activity involves hosts long-term "thematic programs," which are intensive research concentrations lasting from one to six months on specific mathematical topics. These programs bring together mathematicians from around the world to collaborate on subjects ranging from quantum algorithms to the mathematics of neuroscience.
The building itself, designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, was constructed to facilitate mathematical interaction. A central atrium features a prominent helical staircase, and slate blackboards are placed throughout the corridors to encourage spontaneous collaboration. The institute provides office space for approximately 60 visiting researchers and hosts a continuous schedule of workshops, seminars, and public lectures. It is not a traditional university department with permanent faculty, and is a dynamic space where international experts converge to advance their fields.
The Legacy of John Charles Fields
The institute is named for Canadian mathematician John Charles Fields (1863-1932). Fields was a professor at the University of Toronto who worked tirelessly to elevate the status of mathematical research in Canada. He is most famous as the founder of the International Medal for Outstanding Discoveries in Mathematics.
After chairing the 1924 International Congress of Mathematicians in Toronto, Fields used surplus funds of $2,500 to establish two medals for future congresses. His will contributed another $47,000 to the fund. Against his explicit wishes that the award not be named after any person, it became universally known as the Fields Medal. First awarded in 1936, the medal is now presented every four years to between two and four mathematicians under the age of 40. It is often called the mathematical equivalent of the Nobel Prize. The International Mathematical Union (IMU) selects the winners; the Fields Institute does not award the prize but carries on its founder's vision of promoting mathematical discovery.