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> The only other scientists I noticed were her supervisor and the coauthors of the paper on her research. Did I miss someone? "Miarabbas Kiani's curiosity-base

> The only other scientists I noticed were her supervisor and the coauthors of the paper on her research. Did I miss someone? "Miarabbas Kiani's curiosity-based research is reflected in the story of another McMaster student. Donna Strickland received her BEng in Engineering Physics from McMaster in 1981 and went on to doctoral studies at the University of Rochester. Strickland's work on pulsed lasers with her PhD supervisor Gérard Mourou would lead to their Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018" I guess they wanted to have the "Nobel" keyword in there so they found the closest person to the institution (some undergrad from 40 years ago)? > That was in the short biographical section at the end, describing where she got her undergraduate degree and how she ended up McMasters. It is hardly a "weird political spin" to note that she considered US universities but could not get a visa. I just don't know if my alma mater would brag that "hey, since this guy couldn't get into somewhere else so he picked us!". I get that it's an undergrad's joke to laugh at "The Other Institute of Technology" but for a press release? The whole thing about the visa thing feels forced.

wenc 5y ago
I was a grad student in Canada more than a decade ago. At the time, I noticed a disproportionate number of Iranian students among my peers, many of them very talented and who hailed from selective universities like Sharif. I befriended many of them and most of them told me they ended up in Canada because of how onerous it was to obtain US student visas (even though they had applied and gotten into good schools). This seeming non sequitur in the press release seems to be referring to that context — seems like it’s adding a human element to what is a dry technical press release. The narrative doesn’t point to any specific to any executive in power at the time but is more of a pointed reference to US visa policies since 1979 turning talent away.
- 908B64B197 5y ago
  > who hailed from selective universities like Sharif Selective for the country I'm sure. Not the world. > they ended up in Canada because of how onerous it was to obtain US student visas (even though they had applied and gotten into good schools). I'm sure they were admitted to great US schools. Or at least claimed to. The visa process is long because of potential technological transfers. Also, the fact that countries like Canada aren't as strict is one of the reasons businesses like SpaceX that are subject to ITAR can't hire international applicants, even from countries like Canada.

wenc 5y ago

I was a grad student in Canada more than a decade ago. At the time, I noticed a disproportionate number of Iranian students among my peers, many of them very talented and who hailed from selective universities like Sharif. I befriended many of them and most of them told me they ended up in Canada because of how onerous it was to obtain US student visas (even though they had applied and gotten into good schools). This seeming non sequitur in the press release seems to be referring to that context — seems like it’s adding a human element to what is a dry technical press release. The narrative doesn’t point to any specific to any executive in power at the time but is more of a pointed reference to US visa policies since 1979 turning talent away.

908B64B197 5y ago
> who hailed from selective universities like Sharif Selective for the country I'm sure. Not the world. > they ended up in Canada because of how onerous it was to obtain US student visas (even though they had applied and gotten into good schools). I'm sure they were admitted to great US schools. Or at least claimed to. The visa process is long because of potential technological transfers. Also, the fact that countries like Canada aren't as strict is one of the reasons businesses like SpaceX that are subject to ITAR can't hire international applicants, even from countries like Canada.