Science Canada: 03/29/09

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Earth Hour II is a smash

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:30 PM

Toronto 'gets it,' lowers power usage over last year as lights dim across the GTA and as far away as Beijing
Mar 29, 2009
Daniel Dale
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/610163

Who goes to university? A clue: Have a dictionary?

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:30 PM

Mar 28, 2009
JEFFREY SIMPSON
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090328.COSIMP28/TPStory/National

A Eureka! in progress

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:29 PM

Mar 28, 2009
The Ottawa Citizen
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Health/Humane+Genome+Project+over+rated/1438102/story.html

Critics hose federal water funding plan

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:29 PM

Mar 28, 2009
The Canadian Press
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2009/03/28/8915896-sun.html

Sixty minutes of darkness could blaze path of future conservation

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:29 PM

Mar 28, 2009
MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090328.EARTH28ART2115/TPStory/Environment

Ottawa plans limits on flame retardant

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:28 PM

Mar 28, 2009
MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090328.PBDE28ART2115/TPStory/Environment

Canada among world's largest consumers

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:28 PM

Calgary's footprint highest in nation
Mar 28, 2009
Marian Scott
Canwest News Service
http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/Canada+among+world+largest+consumers/1438843/story.html

Feds require business focus for social science grants

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:27 PM

Mar 27, 2009
Scott Daly
The Martlet
http://www.martlet.ca/article/18855-feds-require-business-focus-for

Health Canada puts foot down on electronic cigarettes

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:27 PM

Mar 27, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/03/27/electronic-smoking.html

Film sheds light on shadowy world of germ warfare

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:27 PM

Bob Coen talks about Anthrax War, his new documentary on biological weapons
Mar 27, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/03/27/f-tech-090327-anthrax-war.html

Darwin's two-for-one deal

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 5:26 PM

Evolution is a fact. And it's a theory. It's that 'and' that contributed to the origins of science minister Gary Goodyear's troubles
Mar 26, 2009
T. RYAN GREGORY
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090326.wcoevolve26/BNStory/specialComment/home

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

Earth Hour II is a smash

Who goes to university? A clue: Have a dictionary?

A Eureka! in progress

Critics hose federal water funding plan

Sixty minutes of darkness could blaze path of future conservation

Ottawa plans limits on flame retardant

Canada among world's largest consumers

Feds require business focus for social science grants

Health Canada puts foot down on electronic cigarettes

Film sheds light on shadowy world of germ warfare

Darwin's two-for-one deal

Contribute to Science Canada: e-mail us!

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