My wife is not a scientist, you see. When confronted with subtle, complex issues, she tends not to carefully weigh the evidence on both sides before passing judgment -- most of the time she just goes with her instinct.

The difficulty I face is that most of the time she is right.

When I announced to her that I was determined to hold Perimeter Institute's public events throughout the summer ("Everyone else takes a summer break -- we will be different!"), she looked over the top of the newspaper she was holding and blithely told me that I was being an idiot. And so there are no Perimeter Institute public lectures in July and August, which I have to admit at this point seems to be a pretty good idea.

Similarly, when I pronounced that I would keep writing my weekly Record columns throughout the summer months, she told me that she would not sit idly by and watch me indulge in my ritualistic masochistic tendencies.

"Everyone needs a break," she pronounced after no more than a split second of reflection before fixing me with a stern glare. "It keeps the writing fresh."

This will, then, be my last column before September which, among other things, gives me a chance to reflect upon the previous 10 months and assess matters while also ruminating on what might be appropriate for next year.

Let me begin by saying that I am both impressed by and grateful to The Record for allowing me to publicly indulge in my weekly rants on wide-ranging issues of science and society. Most newspapers give remarkably short shrift to such issues and The Record's willingness to incorporate regular features related to science and education (Rose Simone's excellent Explorer series is a good case in point) is a truly progressive sign, regardless of what you might think of physics (or me, for that matter).

Much as I would sometimes love to forget about issues of politics and the "softer" side of research and focus on the fascinating ideas that deserve our attention, I continue to feel that it is absolutely necessary to regularly examine issues such as the evolving role of universities, how our governments are funding research and, most significantly, how engaged the public is in the process of both research and education.

The most common mistake so many scientists seem to make is to disdainfully withdraw from public view to concentrate on their research, thus condemning themselves to irrelevance. I am determined, therefore, to write regularly about these issues in the future.

Doubtless to the relief of my editor, however, I also vow to write more about scientific issues and discoveries, both past and present.

There are so many stimulating, intriguing concepts and exciting innovations throughout the world of science -- so many triumphs and so many failures, that the list is virtually inexhaustible. Looking back over my articles from this year, I certainly agree that there weren't nearly enough articles on interesting science itself -- a deficit I will do my best to eliminate in the months ahead.

Lastly, I feel strongly motivated to continue writing about the possibilities for Waterloo Region, which I firmly believe is blessed with a unique plethora of opportunities in both the arts and sciences, but which is still in the unsettling position of having a potential which significantly outstrips its reality.

This is not only of direct relevance to my "day job" at Perimeter Institute as we diligently continue our quest to attract the highest level of international scientific talent, but also is of paramount importance to the spirit of the scientific enterprise everywhere.

If we can seize our opportunities and create a culture where research and intellectual inquiry is as proudly embraced as some regions promote their casinos or sports franchises, we will be engaged in something far greater than solving a few equations: we will be doing nothing less than changing the culture.

And that pursuit, I am fairly certain, is something that even my wife would agree with.