Science Canada: 12/20/08

Canada can be a leader in tackling climate change and still experience strong economic and employment growth according to a groundbreaking study
Dec 19, 2008
Bob Ewing
DigitalJournal.com
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/263713

System in search of better icebreaker

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:59 PM

Field trials continue for a less corrosive product to replace 2,000 tonnes of rock salt used yearly
Dec 19, 2008
Tess Kalinowski
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/556247

Develop sound, scientific criteria on pesticide use

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:59 PM

Dec 19, 2008
Lorne Hepworth
Guelph Mercury
http://news.guelphmercury.com/Opinions/article/417864

Cold meds not suitable for kids under 6: Health Canada

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:58 PM

Dec 19, 2008
CARLY WEEKS
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081219.wlcold19/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home

How safe is our food? Don't ask

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:58 PM

Feds withhold records on management of crisis
Dec 19, 2008
Robert Cribb
Toronto Star
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/556249

Listeria files withheld under deluge of access-to-information requests

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:58 PM

Dec 19, 2008
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/12/19/listeria-cfia.html

Children's kidneys not harmed by low doses of melamine: study

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:57 PM

Dec 19, 2008
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/12/19/melamine-hong-kong.html

Health Canada wants stricter heart failure warning on diabetes drug Actos

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:57 PM

Dec 19, 2008
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/12/19/actos.html

Island institute receives $8M for bioscience research

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:57 PM

Dec 19, 2008
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/12/19/pe-bioscience-funding.html

Health experts face drug-resistant flu strain challenges

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:56 PM

Dec 19, 2008
The Canadian Press
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081219/flu_drugs_081219/20081219?hub=Health

Darwinism: Why we are, as we are

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:56 PM

As the 150th anniversary of the publication of “On The Origin of Species” approaches, the moment has come to ask how Darwin’s insights can be used profitably by policymakers
Dec 18, 2008
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12795581

Coal should be warming concern: scientists

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:55 PM

Dec 18, 2008
Clare Baldwin
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE4BH0GO20081218?sp=true

Eyes west

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:55 PM

Could the United States topple Europe as the driver of international climate-change regulations?
Dec 18, 2008
Nature
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v456/n7224/

FDA raises the bar for heart risks of new diabetes drugs

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:54 PM

Dec 18, 2008
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/12/18/diabetes-drugs.html

MRSA outbreak delays surgeries at Charlottetown hospital

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:54 PM

Dec 18, 2008
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/12/18/pe-mrsa-surgery.html

WELCOME TO SCIENCE CANADA

The goal of the Science Canada website is to highlight science policy issues in Canada's political arena and media.

Science policy is the discipline that lies at the interface of the scientific enterprise and public administration. It encompasses two related and complementary spheres: (i) “policy for science” – strategies for managing and enhancing the conduct of scientific research; and (ii) “science for policy” – mechanisms by which scientific knowledge informs government decision-making. Science Canada aims to keep you up-to-date on recent developments on both fronts.

PS - In the interests of promoting healthy debate and reflecting the full marketplace of ideas, links to many types of opinion pieces are posted here... including ones with which I may strongly disagree. (Don't interpret a link to an editorial as an endorsement of its point of view.)

Happy reading!

Jeff Sharom

Connect with Jeff Sharom on LinkedIn or Nature Network.

Why Science Canada?

Canadian scientific community suffers from lack of active engagement in decision making processes, dynamic network of science advocacy and lobbying. That is due to various factors but mainly lack of strong professional associations, and as result frail networks, and absence of science policy discourse in the mainstream of Canadian society. However the involvement of scientists at decision making levels differs in different provinces depending on the degree of cosy relationship and personal friendship between the scientists and policy makers rather than strong professional and systematic engagement.

In United States, there are numerous research centers, and many scientists that are being trained in science policy, numerous networks and organization which provide a strong base for science policy discourse and strong lobby for science in mainstream of the society. One of the latest examples of this effective science lobby in the United States is the efforts to hold a debate dedicated to science and technology between the candidates in 2008 presidential race. There has already been one public debate of scientific advisers of both democratic presidential candidates, and the efforts to convince the final two candidates to dedicate one debate to science and technology has been continued. Regardless of appropriateness of such debate, the fact that serious efforts are present and has taken momentum somehow that according to polls 85% of voters agree with having one debate on science issues , indicates that science policy discourse in the United States is in the mainstream of American society.

It is time for Canadian scientific community to start bringing science into mainstream of Canadian society and get engage in policy making processes. The necessity of dynamic scientific community being involved at policy making levels, in collaboration with social scientists, technology experts, engineers, government officials, policy makers and private sector, has not ever been more urgent. It is up to Canadian scientists to recognize the need and starts preparing essentials for this goal.

Mehrdad Hariri

Science Canada

Canada deserves 'Colossal Fossil' award

With failing hands, we drop the climate-change torch

Obama names 4 top members of science team

Idaho energy czar aims to harness cow pie power

Canada earns the 'colossal fossil' label

New ban imposed on regulating global warming gases

Trade deals must protect environment: Obama

Study Shows Canada Can Tackle Climate Change & Prosper

System in search of better icebreaker

Develop sound, scientific criteria on pesticide use

Cold meds not suitable for kids under 6: Health Canada

How safe is our food? Don't ask

Listeria files withheld under deluge of access-to-information requests

Children's kidneys not harmed by low doses of melamine: study

Health Canada wants stricter heart failure warning on diabetes drug Actos

Island institute receives $8M for bioscience research

Health experts face drug-resistant flu strain challenges

Darwinism: Why we are, as we are

Coal should be warming concern: scientists

Eyes west

FDA raises the bar for heart risks of new diabetes drugs

MRSA outbreak delays surgeries at Charlottetown hospital

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