Science Canada: 09/27/08

Saturday, September 27, 2008

The low-carbon diet

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 7:02 PM

How Sweden and Denmark kicked a nasty fossil fuel habit (using taxes) and got rich in the process. Warning, Canada: Diet may not be effective for all political body types
Sep 27, 2008
Mitch Potter
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/507303

The green shift: Buyer beware

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 7:00 PM

Sep 27, 2008
Mitch Potter
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/507317

The issue: Climate change

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:59 PM

Sep 27, 2008
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/507433

Agency waited 5 days to issue meat recall

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:57 PM

Officials slam CFIA for alleged conflict of interest in handling crisis
Sep 27, 2008
KAREN HOWLETT AND CAROLINE ALPHONSO
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080927.MEAT27/TPStory/National

A dose of green for health care

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:56 PM

Habitual polluters, hospitals starting to see benefits of embracing environment programs
Sep 27, 2008
Noor Javed
Toronto Star
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/507460

Study says methane from ocean floor is 'time bomb'

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:55 PM

Sep 27, 2008
The Canadian Press
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080927/Methane_Climate_20080926/20080927?hub=Canada

Duceppe touts Bloc's environmental credentials

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:54 PM

Sep 27, 2008
Kevin Dougherty
Canwest News Service
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/decisioncanada/story.html?id=cee6c504-121d-4d5c-98e6-27e1ecd20d87

Running out of time on carbon emissions

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:53 PM

Sep 26, 2008
editorial
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080926.weCarbon27/BNStory/politics/home

Harper pledge on bitumen catches Alta. officials off guard

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:52 PM

Sep 26, 2008
Dave Cooper
Canwest News Service
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/decisioncanada/story.html?id=1dc68f86-91cf-4b93-91c9-dae7fc09d780

Scarborough General among highest for C. diff

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 6:50 PM

First of the mandated hospital-generated reports showed levels lower than Quebec, U.K.
Sep 26, 2008
Tanya Talaga
Toronto Star
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/506971

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

The low-carbon diet

The green shift: Buyer beware

The issue: Climate change

Agency waited 5 days to issue meat recall

A dose of green for health care

Study says methane from ocean floor is 'time bomb'

Duceppe touts Bloc's environmental credentials

Running out of time on carbon emissions

Harper pledge on bitumen catches Alta. officials off guard

Scarborough General among highest for C. diff

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