Science Canada: 05/07/09

Politicians say Canadian pigs still a good food source, but some farmers suggest slaughtering infected Albertan herd
May 7, 2009
GLORIA GALLOWAY and DAWN WALTON AND CAROLINE ALPHONSO
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com//servlet/story/LAC.20090507.FLU07ART2257/TPStory/National/

Official says H1N1 could infect third of world

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:37 PM

May 7, 2009
DARREN SCHUETTLER
Reuters
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090507.wflumain0507/BNStory/International/home?cid=al_gam_mostview

Swine flu is same strain in Canada and Mexico

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:37 PM

201 confirmed cases in Canada, 1,893 worldwide
May 6, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/05/06/swine-flu-sequencing060.html

Flu virus baffles Canadian scientists

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:36 PM

Winnipeg lab can't find reason why Mexicans are being hit the hardest
May 7, 2009
Joanna Smith
Toronto Star
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/630370

Green roof proposal faces withering criticism

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:36 PM

May 7, 2009
JEFF GRAY
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090507.GREEN07ART2253/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/

Lafarge proposes test-burning biomass fuels

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:36 PM

Company seeks public input this time around
May 7, 2009
PAUL SCHLIESMANN
Whig-Standard
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1556811

P.E.I. ready to issue air quality warnings

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:35 PM

May 7, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/05/07/pei-air-quality-index.html

Animal testing: Suffering for science

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:35 PM

Europe votes for better regulation of animal experiments
May 7, 2009
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13610079

Global health: Preparing for the worst

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:35 PM

Vaccine makers are ill-prepared for an influenza pandemic
May 7, 2009
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13609361

Electric cars and noise: The sound of silence

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:34 PM

Sound generators will make electric and hybrid cars safer
May 7, 2009
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13606446

Take a look inside the lab at Science Rendezvous

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:34 PM

Robots, smart homes and a GPS-outfitted rescue dog part of daylong show-and-tell
May 7, 2009
Noor Javed
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/630394

Radiation from medical tests; important information to use

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:33 PM

May 3, 2009
Pamela Fayerman
Vancouver Sun
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/medicinematters/archive/2009/05/03/radiation-from-medical-tests.aspx

What you need to read about flu pandemics

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 4:33 PM

May 1, 2009
Pamela Fayerman
Vancouver Sun
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/medicinematters/archive/2009/05/01/what-you-need-to-read-about-flu-pandemics.aspx

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

A Pressing Need: Revising academic apprenticeship

Education our only magic elixir

Reverse Reaganism, reverse growth

Industry faces high cost by neglecting R&D

Telus, Microsoft hope Canada will buy into patient-centred e-health records

Run-of-river power projects breach environmental standards: documents

New map of Arctic could point to Canadian gas, minerals

Britain to remove some DNA profiles from databases

Pork industry scrambles to prove meat is safe

Official says H1N1 could infect third of world

Swine flu is same strain in Canada and Mexico

Flu virus baffles Canadian scientists

Green roof proposal faces withering criticism

Lafarge proposes test-burning biomass fuels

P.E.I. ready to issue air quality warnings

Animal testing: Suffering for science

Global health: Preparing for the worst

Electric cars and noise: The sound of silence

Take a look inside the lab at Science Rendezvous

Radiation from medical tests; important information to use

What you need to read about flu pandemics

Contribute to Science Canada: e-mail us!

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