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**Prairies Breakout Session**
University of Calgary
October 28, 2022

**Attendees:**

1. Stephanie Portet
2. Peta Bonham-Smith
3. Ian Stavness
4. Steve Kirkland
5. Allen Herman
6. Engin Ozberk
7. Chris Soteros
8. Roger Guinn
9. Krill Kopotun 
10. Moderator: Jayadev Athreya 

**Manitoba**
- Manitoba has only one university as part of PIMS, so choice falls to the university. 
- Steering/Administrative committee for site directors. 

**Saskatchewan**
- Saskatchewan has two, USask and URegina, so need a process; 
- alternates between USask and URegina, ad hoc discussions;
- formalize the alternating arrangement; 
- currently term 3 years, renewable twice; 
- alternates when they decide;
- when a term ends, alternate (could be one or two terms);
- should there be feedback from PIMS Central/ Board on reappointments;
- Mathematical scientist for the province represents the province, not just the university;
- UWinnipeg may join as an affiliate, we can cross that bridge when we come to it; 
- EDI concerns - discussion of how to incorporate those ideas. 
- Doug points out: nominating committee for the board? could be particularly useful for Alberta/BC
- Nominating committee could pay attention to balance/recruitment/EDI
- Nomination process/committee for PIMS SRP
- oversight/governance lines in terms of selection of the board
- Should the director/directorate sit on the nominating committee for board, if convened. 

> - Steve: PIMS steering (Dean included) and advisory committees exist. 
> - Newly updated terms of reference, including terms for appointment & reappointment, needed for both USask and URegina. 
> - onboarding packages for new board members 
> - a more constructive and consultative process is needed (i.e. nomination committee)
> - Discussion about forming the nomination committee continued.
> - scope of the directorate in the nomination committee (ex-officio?) if convened. 
> - The directorate can make recommendations to the committee.  
> - Formalization of the nomination process and appointment is needed. 

**Funding Brainstorming**
- Doug: important to be aware of competing organizations in securing provincial/industrial funding - for example, MITACS has been very successful in securing Saskatchewan funding. 
- PIMS has to distinguish itself from MITACS- how can we differentiate?
- Keeping an eye on the environment. 
- Soteros: money from the province came for Indigenous outreach, not renewed. 
- Could we get money for educational activities like VXML https://wxml.math.washington.edu/?
- Can you tie it to Saskatchewan Growth plan https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/budget-planning-and-reporting/plan-for-growth?
- Manitoba has declared experiential learning. 
	- VXML, M2PI can fit in; 
	- can we get Manitoba/Saskatchewan industries interested in M2PI?
- Rodger Guinn: economic development funds; lot of talk, not a lot of actual resources from government - connect to industry?
- How can we connect to university higher-ups? KK points out that in Manitoba, UManitoba is the only PIMS university, so provincial governments. 
- Is Saskatcewhan- tie in with SaskPoly (https://saskpolytech.ca/)
- training for post-secondary mathematics
- tied closely to jobs
- Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund (https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/agriculture-natural-resources-and-industry/agribusiness-farmers-and-ranchers/agricultural-research-programs/knowledge-creation/agriculture-development-fund)
	- Data Science
	- Modeling
	- ISED supercluster (protein) https://www.proteinindustriescanada.ca/supercluster
-  French-language programs for French speakers outside of Quebec (use CNRS connections?) (using Callysto to provide french language educational materials/programming) https://ustboniface.ca/
-  How do we get in the room to access ADF funds?
-  Part of ADF funding comes from grower groups, and that funding is eligible for matching from NSERC Alliance. 
-  Steve: new VPR at UManitoba, Mario Pinto (https://news.umanitoba.ca/b-mario-pinto-appointed-ums-new-vice-president-research-and-international/)
-  Bonham-Smith: VPR Baljit Singh
-  get in the room, talk about jobs
-  Manitoba Center for Health Policy (Data repository with 50 years of integrated health data, used for research)
-  connections to EIDM network https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/Grants-Subs/EIDM-EIDM_eng.asp
-  OMNI, CANMOD https://canmod.net/, MfPh (http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/activities/public-health)
-  PIC superclusters (https://www.proteinindustriescanada.ca/), M2PI (https://m2pi.ca/)
-  Sustainable agriculture (tie to climate)

> - Look beyond provincial funding; would be better to contact industries; 
> - VPIs of each PIMS university can be a great liaison for funding opportunities; 
> - key words for funding in Prairies: jobs, French language education, agriculture/agriculture supercluster 
> - Mario Pinto: interested in big multidisciplinary programs and HQPs; 
> - Steve to organize a meeting with Mario Pinto and the PIMS Directorate;  
> - Have a joint meeting with all VPRs in the Prairies to discuss how PIMS can help the Prairies create jobs; 
> - Supercluster group is not funding agency; partnership could be possible via M2PI. 








