There aren't many times during the course of a year that some venue in Ontario is the centre of the universe in any particular field.

But it's certainly the case this week.

Some of the most brilliant minds in science (in general) and physics (in particular) have gathered for the Quantum 2 Cosmos science festival at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo.

A little background here.  The two big brains behind Research in Motion and the BlackBerry have each used their enormous financial resources to create something for the public good.

Jim Balsillie, perhaps better known for his pursuit of an NHL team, has spent tens of millions of dollars creating the Centre for International Governance Innnovation (CIGI). Former Prime Minister Paul Martin calls it a think tank that's provided a lot of the intellectual fire power behind some of the leading governance changes in the world today (eg. the creation of the G20 to tackle the Great Recession).

Balsillie's co-CEO at RIM, Mike Lazaridis, took a different path.  He's put his millions into creating the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

To walk the halls of this building, as I have over the past two days, is to see a space, interestingly designed, with plenty of young people roaming the hallways, writing physics equations on huge, wall-sized blackboards, playing billiards, or pumping iron in a workout room.

The physical space here is designed to give some of the most scientifically creative minds in the world the space to think about new developments in theoretical physics --- the basic research that governments often don't fund adequately, because it's not sexy enough or doesn't lead directly enough to new jobs that can get a politician's picture in the papers.

But it's crucial that this research take place if Ontario and Canada are to lead the world in the 21st century.

So here we are. At the house that Mike built.  And the building's about to get much bigger. The Ontario government just announced it would invest another $10 million in increasing the size of the physical plant here, so Lazaridis and his scientists can do much more. Total cost of the upgrades is now $28 million (the feds and private partners are also kicking in). Total number of scientists will jump to 250 from 85.

Last night, we debated colonizing space.  Tonight, our wired world and how we cope 24/7.

For those of you who say there isn't enough good, educational programming on television about science, take note. We're trying to put the lie to that this week at the PI.

Hope you'll join us on television at 8 and/or 11 p.m., via twitter.com/theagenda, or on our Inside Agenda blog, where Mike Miner will host a live chat while we're on air tonight.  Go to the home page at tvo.org/theagenda to hook up to that.