Science Canada: 06/01/09

The three-year medical trial will put Canada on the leading edge of international addictions research 'for a population that is in desperate need for alternate health options'
Jun 1, 2009
JUSTINE HUNTER
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/trial-to-give-free-heroin-to-hard-core-addicts-in-vancouver-and-montreal/article1162530/

Ottawa asked to bring back mothballed nuclear reactors

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 7:00 PM

Jun 1, 2009
David Akin
Canwest News Service
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1652011

Status quo not an option

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 7:00 PM

May 29, 2009
Financial Post
http://www.nationalpost.com/related/links/story.html?id=1640755

Sale Sign Hoisted On Candu

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:59 PM

Ottawa to retain Chalk River research division
May 29, 2009
David Akin
Canwest News Service
http://www.nationalpost.com/related/links/story.html?id=1640719

Breast cancer study misinterpreted: Quebec health minister

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:59 PM

May 31, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/05/31/cancer-study.html

'Floaties' return to Halifax waterfront

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:59 PM

May 29, 2009
Canadian Press
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/floaties-return-to-halifax-waterfront/article1159232/

Climate-change disasters kill 300,000 a year

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:58 PM

UN Secretary-General calls it the ‘greatest emerging humanitarian challenge of our time'
May 29, 2009
Meera Selva
Associated Press
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/science/climate-change-disasters-kill-300000-a-year/article1160362/

Worried about drought, Washington State is planning to dam the Similkameen River. Opponents say the project would trigger destructive floods in B.C.
May 30, 2009
Mark Hume
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/flood-of-anger/article1161201/

H1N1 shots possible by October

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:57 PM

May 28, 2009
Mike Stobbe
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/642008

Robots with fins, tails offer new insights into evolution

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:57 PM

June 1, 2009
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/06/01/robots-fins-evolution874.html

Canada faces crisis in caring for elderly: researcher

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:57 PM

May 31, 2009
Teresa Smith
Canwest News Service
http://www.canada.com/Canada+faces+crisis+caring+elderly+researcher/1648566/story.html

Researcher uses pulp residue to replace fertilizer

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:56 PM

June 1, 2009
John Shmuel
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/journal/article/684819

Canada just doesn't get it

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:56 PM

May 31, 2009
CARL DUIVENVOORDEN
SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/canada/2009/05/31/9629836-sun.html

Spreader of manure

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:55 PM

Rondeau playing Manitobans for fools with claim province can hit Kyoto targets
May 31, 2009
KEVIN ENGSTROM
Winnipeg Sun
http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/columnists/kevin_engstrom/2009/05/31/9629381-sun.html

We're anything but green

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:55 PM

May 31, 2009
PAUL RUTHERFORD
Winnipeg Sun
http://www.winnipegsun.com/comment/editorial/2009/05/31/9629246-sun.html

Green shift: Green going mainstream as businesses, governments look to the future

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:55 PM

May 29, 2009
Sarah Staples
Canwest News Service
http://www.canada.com/news/Green+shift+Green+going+mainstream+businesses+governments+look+future/1641998/story.html

Russia likely `winner' in Arctic resource dispute: Study

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:54 PM

May 28, 2009
Randy Boswell
Canwest News Service
http://www.canada.com/Russia+likely+winner+Arctic+resource+dispute+Study/1639856/story.html

Burning crops darken Arctic sky, speed polar melt

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:54 PM

May 27, 2009
Randy Boswell
Canwest News Service
http://www.canada.com/Technology/Burning+crops+darken+Arctic+speed+polar+melt/1635692/story.html

Our mental-health-care system needs fixing

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:53 PM

Here's how
May 27, 2009
Hartinder Nijjar
Special to the Vancouver Sun
http://www.vancouversun.com/Health/mental+health+care+system+needs+fixing/1635448/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

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