IIASA Director General Albert van Jaarsveld attended the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) joint Council and Program Directors' meeting on 17 April and a symposium on misinformation from 18-19 April as part of the CIFAR Research Council.
© Silveri | IIASA
CIFAR is a Canadian-based global research organization supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta, and Quebec, as well as foundations, individuals, corporations, and Canadian and international partner organizations.
Van Jaarsveld was appointed to the CIFAR Research Council (formerly known as the President's Advisory Council) in August 2022. The Council is a critically important source of advice and input in guiding CIFAR’s evolution and growth and helping to shape and influence its research portfolio.
The CIFAR joint Council and Program Director’s meeting provided an excellent opportunity for members to connect and learn from each other. The symposium in turn, aimed to explore salient aspects of misinformation to allow the research community to better understand these phenomena and what can be done to mitigate their impact, and discuss practical ways to take action. The first day of the symposium focused on level-setting and better understanding of the issues from various perspectives, while the second day was devoted to professional development, including a hands-on workshop to support concrete steps that the CIFAR community can take individually or collectively to address the issue of misinformation.
There have been strong ties between IIASA and Canada since the institute’s founding in 1972. Research collaborations between IIASA researchers and colleagues at a number of Canadian institutions continue on topics such as sustainable agriculture and food security, sustainable energy and climate change, and ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Canadian PhD students also regularly participate in the IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program and there are several Canadian staff members currently working at IIASA.
“We look forward to building and strengthening the ties between IIASA and Canadian researchers to address important issues like misinformation, climate change, and other issues that affect all of humanity,” van Jaarveld concludes.
News
13 September 2023
FLAM Sparks Interest and Conversation at the 2023 IBFRA Conference in Helsinki
Boreal forests often bring to mind a winter wonderland: spruce and pine forests as far as the eye can see, fluffy snow dotted with reindeer beneath a nighttime sky brightened by the aurora borealis. Climate change threatens this fragile, pristine habitat that spans 8 countries in the far north. Now boreal forests are associated not just with snowy landscapes, they are becoming synonymous with raging wildfires and massive plumes of smoke, such as those found currently in Canada.
Mitigating the threats posed by climate change in this unique ecosystem and discussing the most recent boreal-related research is the focus of the International Boreal Forest Association conference. Organized in large part by IIASA’s own Florian Kraxner, IBFRA 2023 was held in Helsinki, Finland, where researchers from around the globe gathered to discuss recent findings, foster new connections, and contribute to a plan of attack to save boreal forests as we know them.
30 August 2023
The IIASA Summer Experience: A Blend of Learning and Experience in a nurturing atmosphere
Every summer, IIASA turns into a buzzing hub of knowledge seekers, and this year is no different! The AFE FLAM team welcomed three interns and three YSSP fellows this summer and we took a moment to chat with Rasheed, Adrian, Laura, and Lawrence about their experiences and goals.
24 January 2023
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected immigration?
New research finds a high variation between how pandemic mitigation measures affected immigration to different destination countries, from a slight increase to huge reductions.