Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies

Founded in 1991, the mission of the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is to create collaborative, interdisciplinary, basic research programs for scholars at all stages of their career. The Institute brings together scholars from UBC with distinguished researchers and experts from around the world to investigate fundamental research drawing upon, and contributing to, a wide range of diverse disciplines. The Institute's achievements include the creation of a significant community of scholars – more than 450 Faculty Associates in total – at UBC and an even wider global community of individuals and partner institutions. In addition, the Institute hosts its signature Wall Exchange lecture series, which brings prominent public intellectuals to the heart of downtown Vancouver for a lecture and a forum for the discussion of key societal issues that impact us all. The Institute's facilities and programs are intended to represent connecting points for unconstrained thinking in all fields of research. Of overriding concern for all Institute activities is excellence in research characterized by being fundamental, interdisciplinary, innovative, and unique.