Science Canada: 02/22/09

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Cutting research money is a false economy

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:16 PM

Feb 22, 2009
The Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Business/Cutting+research+money+false+economy/1316494/story.html

World of Science on the move

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:15 PM

Feb 22, 2009
BILL BROOKS
Calgary Sun
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2009/02/22/8482826-sun.html

Environmental heroes

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:15 PM

Speaking up for what's right can mean imprisonment -- or worse
Feb 22, 2009
VIVIAN SONG
Edmonton Sun
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2009/02/22/8482206-sun.html

Canadians asked to prescribe health care improvements

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:14 PM

Feb 22, 2009
Meagan Fitzpatrick
Canwest News Service
http://www.canada.com/Health/Canadians+asked+prescribe+health+care+improvements/1317610/story.html

Australia to press Canada on environment

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:14 PM

Feb 21, 2009
Jennifer Campbell
Ottawa Citizen
http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/Australia+press+Canada+environment/1316097/story.html

Scarcity of R&D driving top minds from Canada

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:13 PM

Organization promoting advanced research makes it a mission to show the urgency of integrating innovation into business plans
Feb 21, 2009
GARY MASON
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090221.BCMASON21/TPStory/National/columnists

Charles Darwin casts a giant shadow, 200 years after his birth

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:13 PM

Feb 21, 2009
Rod Charlton
Recorder & Times
http://www.recorder.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1446348

A man’s world no more

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:13 PM

Number of women in university science programs has risen sharply
Feb 21, 2009
BRIAN HAYES
Chronicle Herald
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Science/9010861.html

Environment minister says carbon capture already a proven technology

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:12 PM

Feb 20, 2009
The Canadian Press
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gAPgmwTaO2FjlVltI-zspjQM0n6Q

Read no evil

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:12 PM

Trevor Herriot, the naturalist and author, on writing about things people, and governments, don't want to face
Feb 20, 2009
TREVOR HERRIOT
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090220.wbkherriot_essay21/BNStory/globebooks/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail

Canada willing to leave climate policy to Obama

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 10:11 PM

But there's a downside to letting U.S. president set agenda on cutting greenhouse emissions
Feb 18, 2009
Clare Demerse
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/588974

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

Cutting research money is a false economy

World of Science on the move

Environmental heroes

Canadians asked to prescribe health care improvements

Australia to press Canada on environment

Scarcity of R&D driving top minds from Canada

Charles Darwin casts a giant shadow, 200 years after his birth

A man’s world no more

Environment minister says carbon capture already a proven technology

Read no evil

Canada willing to leave climate policy to Obama

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