Science Canada: 08/28/09

Some question necessity of high-radiation CT, heart scans
Aug 27, 2009
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/08/27/radiation-ct.html

Cancer stem cells spur hope, skepticism

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:28 PM

Some researchers now believe this rare sub-type of cells may be the engine driving cancer growth and recurrence, and hope the findings could lead to new approaches to treating the disease
Aug 27, 2009
Jill Colvin
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/cancer-stem-cells-spur-hope-skepticism/article1267299/

Canada aims to speed up flu vaccine production

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:28 PM

But chief public health officer stresses it won't be rolled out until it passes all safety tests; mid-November launch expected
Aug 27, 2009
Caroline Alphonso
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-aims-to-speed-up-flu-vaccine-production/article1266929/

Officials working to speed up delivery of swine flu vaccine

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:28 PM

Aug 27, 2009
Meagan Fitzpatrick
Canwest News Service
http://www.canada.com/health/Officials+working+speed+delivery+swine+vaccine/1935846/story.html

The virtues of biochar: A new growth industry?

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:27 PM

Biochar could enrich soils and cut greenhouse gases as well
Aug 27. 2009
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14302001

Science and technology keeping Canadians safe

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:27 PM

Security Global conflict and economic instability is rapidly changing the 21st century
Aug 27, 2009
JOHN SHMUEL
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/journal/article/773201

Canada-U.S. trade crucial to renewal of Alberta’s agricultural sector

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:27 PM

Aug 26, 2009
David Finlayson
Edmonton Journal
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Canada+trade+crucial+renewal+Alberta+agricultural+sector/1932161/story.html

U.S. lowers swine flu death estimate

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:26 PM

Aug 26, 2009
Lauran Neergaard
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/newsfeatures/article/686931

We can't afford new moon mission, NASA says

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:26 PM

Aug 26, 2009
SETH BORENSTEIN
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/686932

Can wind farms cause false weather alarms?

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:25 PM

Aug 26, 2009
DIRK LAMMERS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/686890

Was McGill prof duped or just sloppy?

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:25 PM

Aug 26, 2009
Peggy Curran
Montreal Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/McGill+prof+duped+just+sloppy/1929126/story.html

Panel recommends Ontario pay for in vitro treatments

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:25 PM

Aug 26, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/686868

Ontario should pay for in vitro treatments: panel

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:24 PM

Aug 26, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/08/26/ont-invitro.html

International praise for philosopher king

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:24 PM

Ian Hacking, 73, wins $800,000 Holberg prize
Aug 26, 2009
Raveena Aulakh
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/686537

Ericsson defends Nortel purchase

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 1:24 PM

Ericsson executives are touting the value their company has brought to the Canadian economy since opening doors here more than 50 years ago
Aug 24, 2009
SIMON AVERY
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/ericsson-defends-nortel-purchase/article1261946/

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

Universities squabble over research funding

MPs defy party, call for ban on asbestos

Seismic ruling a moral victory for whale activists

Garbage island in Pacific worries researchers

Watch for swine flu spread from turkeys: UN

Swine flu vaccine funding boosted

Listeriosis outbreak still prompting political spats

Growing use of medical imaging may be increasing cancer risk

Cancer stem cells spur hope, skepticism

Canada aims to speed up flu vaccine production

Officials working to speed up delivery of swine flu vaccine

The virtues of biochar: A new growth industry?

Science and technology keeping Canadians safe

Canada-U.S. trade crucial to renewal of Alberta’s agricultural sector

U.S. lowers swine flu death estimate

We can't afford new moon mission, NASA says

Can wind farms cause false weather alarms?

Was McGill prof duped or just sloppy?

Panel recommends Ontario pay for in vitro treatments

Ontario should pay for in vitro treatments: panel

International praise for philosopher king

Ericsson defends Nortel purchase

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