Creating an exceptional place where breakthroughs happen requires creating an exceptional environment that welcomes and supports everyone. Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is a core objective in enabling Perimeter to achieve its strategic goals during this reporting year and beyond. Tailored considerations are built into everything that Perimeter does in research, training, and public outreach, as outlined in the Strategic Plan for EDI.
“I love the atmosphere here. That feeling of belonging by itself is such an important, strong power. Physics is built on community, on collaboration. Most of the science is built on this collaborative exchange of ideas, discussions – that’s how we move forward.”
—Ghazal Geshnizjani, Perimeter Teaching Faculty [link]
Improving Data Collection
In 2024/25, Perimeter Institute integrated third-party data collection platform Diversio, which provides the capability of collecting demographic data as well as inclusion surveys to better understand the employee experience. Diversio is a dynamic survey creation tool to collect anonymized, aggregated data related to demographics and inclusion. Ensuring that voices are heard equally across Perimeter will advance its strategic goals to support and empower underrepresented groups in the scientific community as a whole.
Highlighted Article: Perimeter’s path to decarbonizing its Waterloo facility
Perimeter’s award-winning building in Waterloo, Ontario, is on a journey of continuous improvement. In 2024, the Institute completed phase one of a three-phase decarbonization plan which includes replacing old boilers, installing humidifiers and air pumps, and replacing the electrical supply. The plan is expected to be fully implemented in 2027, allowing Perimeter to reduce its carbon footprint for its building by 87 percent, in alignment with Perimeter’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Once the newly installed boilers reach the end of their lifespan, they will be replaced with electric options. At that time, Perimeter’s building will be completely carbon-free.
Research, Training, and Outreach Programs
Perimeter aims to recruit the most talented individuals from diverse backgrounds and implements best practices in training programs and hiring. Examples include:
- Perimeter Scholars International (PSI) master’s and Bridge student selection, unique among physics training programs in striving to achieve gender parity as well as representation from other equity-deserving groups.
- The longstanding Simons Emmy Noether Fellowship program, supported by the Simons Foundation since 2018, brings exceptional early- and mid-career women faculty to PI for up to a year of unconstrained research time with tailored supports to enhance their career success.
- The expanded Simons Emmy Noether Visiting Postdoctoral Fellowships now include exceptional women postdoctoral researchers. These Fellowships give women, who are severely underrepresented at later career stages in physics, career boosts at a critical time.
- The Emmy Noether program has been in place since 2013, with a total of 74 Emmy Noether Fellows and Postdoctoral Fellows completing fellowships and multiple visits.
- Perimeter's annual Inspiring Future Women in Science one-day conference, with support from Linamar. This event brought 153 high school students and 17 teachers from the Waterloo region and beyond to Perimeter for the day, where they heard first-hand from successful women in STEM careers. The conference programming including presentations, panel discussions, and a speed mentoring session for all student participants and their teachers. This annual conference has been running since 2015 at the Institute.
- The Perimeter Teacher Network continuously aims to reach remote, underserved, and indigenous communities with accessible educational programming such as teacher workshops and training courses, GoPhysics! and Physica Phantastica workshops delivered directly to students, and interactive online resources.
- Perimeter began a collaboration with Connected North, an organization that provides live, interactive virtual learning experiences and access to educational resources for students and teachers in remote communities, supporting them where they live.
Advancing Inclusive Capacity
Perimeter offers formal training and educational courses to all researchers, residents, and administrative staff, as well as informal educational and community-building sessions such as colloquia and journal clubs through the Inclusive Perimeter Platform. Additionally, the Inclusive Perimeter Platform, a grassroots initiative within the Institute, has five active working groups that operate as Employee Resource Groups. Highlights from the 2024/25 reporting period include:
- Community educational events, including three colloquia, open to all PI residents, and Journal Clubs with regular meetings to discuss many themes.
- The Emmy Noether Workshop: Quantum Space Time was held March 10th to 14th, 2025, supported by the Simons Foundation. This workshop brought together researchers with a wide range of viewpoints and gave them an opportunity to exchange ideas and gain new insights. [PIRSA pirsa.org/c25017]
- Alongside the conference, the Women in Physics platform working group organized a speed mentoring session with distinguished guests and speakers.
- Training for Perimeter faculty and staff by organizations such as the Toronto Initiative for Diversity and Excellence (TIDE) and policies to promote a positive work-life balance include providing a flexible, hybrid work environment in a dynamic facility, as well as supporting personal and professional development.