North American mathematicians will soon be able to immerse themselves in their thoughts at a purpose-built hideaway high in the Canadian Rockies.

When it opens in 2003, the Banff International Research Station will allow invitees to "live, eat and breathe mathematics", says Nassif Ghoussoub, director of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) in Vancouver.

Inspired by existing retreats for mathematicians in Oberwolfach, Germany, and Luminy, France, the research station will invite up to 40 mathematicians at a time to participate in intense, five-day workshops.

"We've seen from Oberwolfach and Luminy that this kind of setting is a fantastically successful way to advance a mathematics research agenda," says Philippe Tondeur, director of the mathematics division at the US National Science Foundation (NSF).

The station will cost about $1.5 million per year to run, and will be supported in roughly equal parts by the NSF, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Alberta Science and Research Authority and PIMS. The NSF and PIMS have already announced their support, and the other partners are expected to confirm their participation on 24 September.

As many as 1,600 mathematicians could pass through Banff each year. In addition to the five-day workshops, it will accommodate groups of 10–15 mathematicians to work for up to four weeks on specific research topics.

→ http://www.pims.math.ca/birs