
IMPACT
Ask our founders and emeriti about TRIUMF’s humble beginnings and you will invariably hear: “This used to be just a big pile of dirt.”
You could imagine our first director, Dr. John Warren, standing alongside other founding members at the edge of an empty lot, contemplating possibilities. But not even TRIUMF’s founders could have imagined the twists and turns of the lab’s 50-year journey, nor the impact that TRIUMF would have on the people of Canada and the world.
Today, on that same 12.8-acre plot of land, TRIUMF houses world-leading research and technology, and fuels Canada’s collective imagination for the future of particle and nuclear physics and accelerator-based science. Though younger than the mossy trees lining its eastern edge, TRIUMF has already established itself as one of Canada’s leading institutions in physics research, positioning Canada among the world’s most valuable science assets. From uncovering the laws that govern the universe, to developing revolutionary new medicines, to training the next generation of scientists, TRIUMF has spent the last 50 years making the world a better place.
Understanding our universe
Training the next generation
Translating science to society
Connecting Canadians

A half-century of excellence in training
In the last five decades, TRIUMF has welcomed thousands of undergraduate and graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, and post-doctoral fellows through its doors. From our first summer students in 1967, to the Isotopes for Science and Medicine (IsoSiM) program of today, we have a proud history of providing access to world-class tools, training, and expertise, right here in Canada.
Our dedication to training comes from a founding principle that we’ve always held close to heart: collaboration in pursuit of the best possible science. We pride ourselves on being a training ground for diverse and multidisciplinary scientific programs – and we are happy to share our technology and expertise to support other large-scale research projects around the world. Despite our relatively small size, TRIUMF continues to be Canada’s hub for cultivating world-class knowledge in nuclear and particle physics, nuclear medicine, accelerator and detector technology, as well as a host of other disciplines.