Perimeter Institute previews 25th anniversary plans at Ottawa gala

At a reception in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, attended by participants of this year’s Canadian Science Policy Conference, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics announced plans to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025. The celebrations will last throughout the year and include exhibits, lectures, talks, and events across Canada and at Perimeter Institute’s facility in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. 

Founded by tech visionary Mike Lazaridis in October, 2000, Perimeter Institute has cemented itself as a global force in the world of theoretical physics research. From its humble beginnings of nine internationally recognized scientists, Perimeter now boasts over 50 faculty and 70 postdoctoral fellows working on cutting-edge research in cosmology, quantum computing, and more.  

Throughout the year-long celebrations, Perimeter will open its doors to the Canadian public for lectures and events, while strengthening connections with the growing Canadian research community through scientific conferences and research partnerships.  

Public events will kick-off in February 2025 with the special exhibition Galileo and his Ingenious Discoveries. Presented in concert with the Embassy of Italy in Canada and Galileo Museum in Florence, the exhibition features inventions from the famous Italian astronomer’s time and writings on the theme of geolocation, all on display for the first time ever outside Europe. Carlo Rovelli, Perimeter Visiting Distinguished Researching Chair and author of popular science book Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, will give a public lecture for the 25th anniversary celebrations that same month.

The centrepiece of Perimeter’s celebrations next year will be a one-of-a-kind, week-long festival from September 20 to 26. The event will be timed alongside Doors Open Canada and Waterloo’s Lumen Festival, culminating in a signature event on September 25 to honour the Institute’s founders and the Institute’s unique history.

In addition to hometown events, Perimeter’s celebrations will take the wonder and discovery of theoretical physics across Canada. With stops in Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver, and more, Perimeter will connect with researchers, universities, and partners across the nation and celebrate Canada’s leadership in scientific innovation.  

Perimeter’s strength lies in its dynamic and collaborative environment that encourages partnerships between resident faculty and visiting scientists from around the world. Renowned scientists, including Stephen Hawking, Neil Turok, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, and Perimeter’s current Executive Director, Marcela Carena, have graced the halls of the Institute over the years. For its 25th anniversary, Perimeter will shine a spotlight on the incredible advances in physics made right here in Canada. A wealth of new content and resources from Perimeter’s communication and outreach teams will be publicly accessible, including updates from the frontier of science, face-to-face interviews with leading physicists, and fun science explainers. There’s something for everyone to celebrate – physics is for everyone, after all, and Perimeter’s success has come from strong public support. These celebrations are a way for the Institute to give back to those who made it possible.  

Marcela Carena, Perimeter Institute’s Executive Director, addressed the crowd at the reception. “In 2025, PI is turning 25, and tonight I am pleased to share a preview of our anniversary plans,” she said. “It will be a year-long celebration, one that looks forward to the future as much as it acknowledges the achievements of the past. You can expect stories, content, and events for the public, for our scientific and industry partners, and for supporters of fundamental science everywhere.”

“We invite you to celebrate Perimeter’s 25th anniversary together. More broadly, we invite you to participate with us in a growing and thriving innovation ecosystem here in Canada. Across the country, foundational research from quantum to the cosmos is breaking new ground. Graduate programs are training a new generation of scientific leaders and feeding a strong tech economy. Perimeter is proud to play a vital role in that ecosystem.”

Jodi Cooley, Executive Director of SNOLAB, an underground experimental physics facility in Sudbury, Ontario, expressed excitement at the reception, both at seeing Carena at the helm of Perimeter Institute and for what the next 25 years of physics in Canada could bring.  

“I’m very excited about Marcela being the new director. I’m looking forward to broadening our connections,” Cooley said.

“The interplay of experiment and theory is really important,” Cooley added. She highlighted TRISEP, a graduate summer school partnership between Perimeter Institute, SNOLAB, and TRIUMF, a particle accelerator in Vancouver, British Columbia. Cooley added that what she finds exciting right now in science is the way that experimental and theoretical physics are pushing one another to make new discoveries.

Fundamental research in Canada is not a solitary endeavour but requires strong partnerships between everyone in the ecosystem.

Perimeter Institute believes that theoretical physics will define our future. The Institute is excited to see what the next 25 years of exploration brings for Canada, for Perimeter, and for the world.  

Stay connected to 25th anniversary events and more by following Perimeter Institute on social media (Instagram @perimeterinstitute and Facebook @pioutreach) and by visiting perimeterinstitute.ca.