Science Canada: 06/26/09

Friday, June 26, 2009

A math, science future

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:13 PM

June 26, 2009
Ross Rosier
Special to The Windsor Star
http://www2.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=fbb76076-dd71-4d85-94d7-22d38c01f760

New leaders, rather than salvage

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:13 PM

The federal government's provision of $300-million to facilitate the foreign takeover of two Nortel divisions would have been better spent to encourage research and development in Canada
Jun 24, 2009
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/new-leaders-rather-thansalvage/article1192903/

MS research gets boost

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:12 PM

June 25, 2009
Sneh Duggal
Edmonton Journal
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Health/research+gets+boost/1731006/story.html

FNUC being 'picked on': faculty member

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:12 PM

June 26, 2009
Jason Warick
Saskatchewan News Network
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/News/FNUC+being+picked+faculty+member/1734293/story.html

Alberta least attractive province for energy investment: report

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:12 PM

It's behind Man. and Sask., and even trails N.S. and N.L.
June 24, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/06/24/fraser-institute-energy-report-alberta.html

Swine flu virus 'stable,' WHO head says

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:11 PM

June 25, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/06/25/swine-flu-who.html

Canada virtually sure to roll out H1N1 vaccine this fall: Butler-Jones

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:11 PM

Jun 25, 2009
Helen Branswell
The Canadian Press
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iffwOhWwMBdDmLx4epOs_TVYVP3w

First Nations call for state of emergency

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:11 PM

H1N1 Spread
June 25, 2009
Meagan Fitzpatrick
Canwest News Service
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1731268

Return of wheat wars surprises farmers

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:10 PM

Proponents say changing world conditions have created an international demand for the gene-altered wheat
Jun 26, 2009
Patrick White
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/return-of-wheat-wars-surprises-farmers/article1197945/

Fungus threat hangs over world wheat production

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:10 PM

June 24, 2009
David Akin
Canwest News Service
http://www2.canada.com/topics/technology/science/story.html?id=1728850

1 in 25 deaths worldwide linked to alcohol consumption, study finds

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:10 PM

Jun 25,2009
Sheryl Ubelacker
The Canadian Press
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gpAppgKjd71wEbeo2_Is5rJsiQrw

Canada still unsure on isotope reactor repair plan

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:09 PM

June 25, 2009
Allan Dowd
Reuters
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Canada+still+unsure+isotope+reactor+repair+plan/1731845/story.html

Stringent food-safety standards vital

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:09 PM

Jun 25, 2009
MICHAEL H. McCAIN
Chronicle-Herald
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1129166.html

Climate change: reducing risks and costs

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:09 PM

Jun 25, 2009
JENNIFER GRAHAM
Chronicle-Herald
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1129133.html

The safety of herbicides

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:08 PM

June 25, 2009
Gerald Filipski
The Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/safety+herbicides/1731676/story.html

Cap and tax

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:08 PM

The proposed Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade legislation is more tax grab than carbon-dioxide reducer
June 25, 2009
Martin Feldstein
Financial Post
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/06/25/cap-and-tax.aspx

Sonic, Shell team for oilsands patent

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:08 PM

Details of 'innovation' not disclosed
June 24, 2009
Shaun Polczer
Calgary Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Sonic+Shell+team+oilsands+patent/1727121/story.html

Fishing threatens a third of ocean sharks worldwide

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:07 PM

June 25, 2009
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/06/25/tech-sharks-overfishing-sharks.html

Environmental bills before U.S. Congress could boost Mackenzie pipeline

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:07 PM

June 24, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iz3yq1IRtJdn_-f_bKo2yWwlH_Cg

Tofino under pressure to build secondary sewage treatment facility

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:06 PM

Town hasn't tested sewage outflow site for contamination in ten to 15 years
June 25, 2009
Sarah Douziech
Westerly News
http://www.canada.com/Tofino+under+pressure+build+secondary+sewage+treatment+facility/1730192/story.html

Research defends city's wily coyotes

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 12:04 PM

June 26, 2009
Nick Lewis
Calgary Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Life/Research+defends+city+wily+coyotes/1735081/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

A math, science future

New leaders, rather than salvage

MS research gets boost

FNUC being 'picked on': faculty member

Alberta least attractive province for energy investment: report

Swine flu virus 'stable,' WHO head says

Canada virtually sure to roll out H1N1 vaccine this fall: Butler-Jones

First Nations call for state of emergency

Return of wheat wars surprises farmers

Fungus threat hangs over world wheat production

1 in 25 deaths worldwide linked to alcohol consumption, study finds

Canada still unsure on isotope reactor repair plan

Stringent food-safety standards vital

Climate change: reducing risks and costs

The safety of herbicides

Cap and tax

Sonic, Shell team for oilsands patent

Fishing threatens a third of ocean sharks worldwide

Environmental bills before U.S. Congress could boost Mackenzie pipeline

Tofino under pressure to build secondary sewage treatment facility

Research defends city's wily coyotes

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