Science Canada: 07/24/09

Friday, July 24, 2009

Seasonal flu shot may be mismatch

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:34 AM

Samples of the emerging new strain of H3N2 viruses show substantially reduced response to antibodies generated by the corresponding virus in the vaccine, raising the possibility of significantly reduced protection
Helen Branswell
Jul 24, 2009
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/science/seasonal-flu-shot-may-be-mismatch/article1228824/

Swine flu could strike 40% in U.S.

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:34 AM

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate means about twice the number of people who usually get sick in a normal flu season would be affected, and hundreds of thousands could die
Jul 24, 2009
Mike Stobbe
Associated Press
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/swine-flu-could-strike-40-in-us/article1230000/

Swine flu pandemic in early days: WHO

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:34 AM

July 24, 2009
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/07/24/swine-flu-h1n1-who-pandemic.html

20 per cent of Canada's flu vaccine headed to developing nations

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:33 AM

Commitment made by company, not federal government
Jul 24, 2009
Caroline Alphonso and Gloria Galloway
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/20-per-cent-of-canadas-flu-vaccine-headed-to-developing-nations/article1227827/

Infected swine-flu inspector flew twice: CFIA

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:33 AM

July 23, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/07/23/swine-flu-inspector072309.html

Canada lagging on vaccine trials

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:33 AM

Jul 23, 2009
Joanna Smith
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/670448

Britain starts swine flu hotline

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:32 AM

July 23, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/07/23/swine-flu-uk.html

Federal policies fuel spread of swine flu

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:32 AM

July 23, 2009
Paul Webster
Canadian Medical Association Journal
http://www.cmaj.ca/earlyreleases/23july09_aboriginals.shtml

Nunavut communities not updated on swine flu

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:32 AM

July 23, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/07/23/nunavut-panflu.html

Tamiflu approved for Canadian babies

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:32 AM

July 23, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/07/23/tamiflu-infants.html

Bruce Power drops plan to build Ont. reactors

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:31 AM

July 23, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/07/23/bruce-power-cancelled-reactors.html

Ottawa fights ragweed from root to allergy

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:31 AM

July 23, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/07/23/ottawa-ragweed-war-gatineau-allergy.html

Warming oceans mean less cloud cover

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:31 AM

July 23, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/07/23/warm-oceans-less-cloud-cover.html

As Canadian as salt? Study finds more in our food

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:30 AM

In every product studied, foods contained significantly higher levels of sodium than the same products sold in other countries
Jul 23, 2009
Carly Weeks
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/as-canadian-as-salt-study-finds-more-in-our-food/article1227967/

Electronic cigarettes toxic, FDA says

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:30 AM

July 23, 2009
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/07/23/electronic-cigarette.html

Government should reform food labelling policy: report

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 11:30 AM

July 19, 2009
Amy Minsky
Canwest News Service
http://www.vancouversun.com/Government+should+reform+food+labelling+policy+report/1809551/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

Seasonal flu shot may be mismatch

Swine flu could strike 40% in U.S.

Swine flu pandemic in early days: WHO

20 per cent of Canada's flu vaccine headed to developing nations

Infected swine-flu inspector flew twice: CFIA

Canada lagging on vaccine trials

Britain starts swine flu hotline

Federal policies fuel spread of swine flu

Nunavut communities not updated on swine flu

Tamiflu approved for Canadian babies

Bruce Power drops plan to build Ont. reactors

Ottawa fights ragweed from root to allergy

Warming oceans mean less cloud cover

As Canadian as salt? Study finds more in our food

Electronic cigarettes toxic, FDA says

Government should reform food labelling policy: report

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