The Institut de recherche en biologie végétale and its Biodiversity Centre are located within the Montreal Botanical Garden, one of the largest botanical gardens in the world. Product of a unique partnership between the Université de Montréal and the City of Montreal (Espace pour la vie Montréal), the IRBV is widely recognized as a centre of excellence whose mission is research and teaching of plant biology. Building upon this rewarding relationship, the Biodiversity Centre also strives for the highest research and educational standards, while raising public awareness of the importance of preserving and better understanding biodiversity.