Science Canada: 04/13/09

Monday, April 13, 2009

Carbon capture and storage 'being oversold as a panacea'

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:24 PM

But critics and experts say there are geological risks, it's a waste of taxpayers' money and the 'economics are deadly.'
Apr 13, 2009
Bea Vongdouangchanh
The Hill Times
http://www.hilltimes.com/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=2009/april/13/legislation/&c=2

Environment Canada puts off action to protect woodland-caribou habitat

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:24 PM

Apr 13, 2009
MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090413.CARIBOU13ART2231/TPStory/National

Professional skills for graduate students

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:23 PM

Apr 13, 2009
Carolyn Steele
University Affairs
http://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-sense/professional-skills-for-graduate-students/

Let's get it together with ecosystem management

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:23 PM

Apr 13, 2009
David Suzuki with Faisal Moola
LondonTopic.ca
http://www.londontopic.ca/article.php?artid=13919

The heat is on

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:23 PM

Health groups want tanning industry's hide for still allowing teens their place in the artificial sun
Apr 13, 2009
SHARON LEM
SUN MEDIA
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/04/13/9095736-sun.html

Weather forecasts a lot of hot air, Canadians tell agency

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:22 PM

Apr 12, 2009
Jack Branswell and Vanessa Burka
Canwest News Service
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Weather+forecasts+Canadians/1489581/story.html

Budget cuts threaten renowned teaching observatory

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:22 PM

Apr 12, 2009
Tom Spears
Canwest News Service
http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/Budget+cuts+threaten+renowned+teaching+observatory/1490069/story.html

An inconvenient film

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:21 PM

Apr 11, 2009
Peter Foster
Financial Post
http://www.financialpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=b944112c-c1bc-4492-aa44-5aa29b67e08b

Black-footed ferret set to make Canadian comeback

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:21 PM

Apr 11, 2009
Randy Boswell
Canwest News Service
http://www.canada.com/Black+footed+ferret+make+Canadian+comeback/1487641/story.html

WestJet goes for gold on environment

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:20 PM

Apr 10, 2009
Gina Teel
Calgary Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/WestJet+goes+gold+environment/1484626/story.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

Carbon capture and storage 'being oversold as a panacea'

Environment Canada puts off action to protect woodland-caribou habitat

Professional skills for graduate students

Let's get it together with ecosystem management

The heat is on

Weather forecasts a lot of hot air, Canadians tell agency

Budget cuts threaten renowned teaching observatory

An inconvenient film

Black-footed ferret set to make Canadian comeback

WestJet goes for gold on environment

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