Editorial - 15-10

It’s not a new issue and it isn’t very sexy, but brain drain and the efforts of governments and companies to combat it remains a very real challenge for Canada. It was therefore highly informative and encouraging to hear the experience of one Canadian who returned to this country after 20 years in the US and the reasons behind his decision.

Resve Saleh returned to take up a professorship at the Univ of British Columbia and accept the NSERC/PMC Sierra chair for research on system-on-chip technology. Saleh had been looking for an opportunity to return to his native country for many years, and when he finally found the right confluence of factors, he wrote them down in order of importance. Opportunity was number one, in the form of the aforementioned research chair. It was closely followed by the potential to make an impact, quality of life and the success of the Canadian Microelectronics Corp in securing funding for a national system-on-chip research network.

There were other factors, and yes, declining tax levels and a healthy economy factored into the equation. But it’s well known that monetary reward is rarely the most powerful lure for a first-class researcher. The ability to do good work and make a difference are much more powerful motivators, and for Saleh, Canada’s rapidly improving research environment and infrastructure made his return to Canada possible.

So we welcome home Dr Saleh, as well as other Canadians who recognize the undeniable merits of this nation. Let’s hope the trickle becomes a flood as Canada’s research infrastructure evolves.