Howard Burton is a theoretical physicist who was the founding executive director of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, serving in that role from 1999-2007.[independent source needed] He has authored a history of the early years of Perimeter, First Principles: Building Perimeter Institute, and was recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Waterloo in 2007.

Burton is also a filmmaker and the creator of Ideas Roadshow, a multimedia initiative that produces documentary films, books, and podcasts. Ideas Roadshow was the recipient of the Educational Learning Resources Award at the London Book Fair's International Excellence Awards in 2018. He holds an M.A. in philosophy, and a Ph.D. in theoretical physics.