CIFAR’s statement on institutional neutrality
February 2024
The statement below outlines CIFAR’s approach to taking a stand with regards to specific world events, political or social action.
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a global research organization proudly based in Canada.
CIFAR encourages collaborations across disciplines and borders. The specific international engagements that we pursue are driven by the intellectual or scientific activities of our diverse research community. CIFAR collaborates with the best minds in the world because we value the richness, diversity and creativity of a global research community. Central to CIFAR’s work is our commitment to academic freedom: that is the freedom to spread knowledge, collaborate, teach, learn and discover without interference.
CIFAR will always maintain neutrality in relation to specific world events, political or social action. In order to successfully undertake its mission, CIFAR will continue to sustain an environment that values freedom of intellectual inquiry. We will embrace and encourage diversity of thought, opinion, belief and argument. The only occasions when CIFAR might choose to take an organizational stance are when policies of funders inhibit CIFAR’s mission.
Any member of the CIFAR community may wish to express their views privately or publicly with regards to world events, political or social action. Such statements will be made in a personal capacity and will never represent the position of CIFAR as a charitable organization.