Science Canada: April 2010

Monday, April 26, 2010

The Council of Canadian Academies – Thriving, Surviving, or Doomed to Fail?

Apr 25, 2010
The Black Hole: Science in Canada - Issues Affecting Trainees
http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2010/04/25/the-council-of-canadian-academies-%e2%80%93-thriving-surviving-or-doomed-to-fail/

Friday, April 23, 2010

Government of Canada Investment in Cutting-Edge Research to Spur Growth and Innovation

Apr 23, 2010
Canada Foundation for Innovation
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Government-Canada-Investment-Cutting-Edge-Research-Spur-Growth-Innovation-1152814.htm

Making Little Scientists: The Plight of the Postdoc Who Wants To Have a Family

Apr 22, 2010
The Black Hole: Science in Canada - Issues Affecting Trainees
http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2010/04/22/making-little-scientists/

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Indentured servants, with lots of degrees

Apr 20, 2010
Tom Spears
The Ottawa Citizen
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Indentured+servants+with+lots+degrees/2920843/story.html

What’s the next big question in research?

Apr 20, 2010
Leo Charbonneau
University Affairs
http://www.universityaffairs.ca/margin-notes/whats-the-next-big-question-in-research/

A vestige of the 18th century

Homeopathy hasn't changed much since the days of blood-letting. So why are people still buying it?
Apr 20, 2010
Mitchell Gerskup, Ryan Gray, Michael Kruse, Iain Martel and Justin Trottier
National Post
http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2926915

Canada’s productivity gap, and what to do about it

Apr 19, 2010
Jim Roche
Ottawa Business Journal
http://www.obj.ca/Technology/2010-04-19/article-1026130/Canada%26rsquo%3Bs-productivity-gap,-and-what-to-do-about-it-/1

Cuban scientist wins 'green Nobel'

Award winner shifts farmers from dependence on chemicals
Apr 19, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/19/tech-cuban-seed-farmer.html

Thinking big

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research is on the lookout for the Next Big Question
Apr 13, 2010
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/science/thinking-big/article1533011/

Cancer genome project expands

Apr 14, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/14/cancer-genome.html

Universities are sitting ducks for reform

According to one 2008 survey, Canadian faculty were the highest-paid among 15 countries studied.
Apr 13, 2010
Margaret Wente
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/universities-are-sitting-ducks-for-reform/article1532075/

Old Debate, More Participants: What do 80% of PhD holders do for a career?

Apr 12, 2010
The Black Hole: Science in Canada - Issues Affecting Trainees
http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2010/04/12/old-debate-more-participants-what-do-80-of-phd-holders-do-for-a-career/

Whither the NRC?

Apr 7, 2010
Rob Annan
Researcher Forum
http://dontleavecanadabehind.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/whither-the-nrc/

More About Communicating Science to NonScientists

Apr 8, 2010
The Black Hole: Science in Canada - Issues Affecting Trainees
http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2010/04/08/more-about-communicating-science-to-nonscientists/

Future of Neutron Scattering in Canada

Apr 15, 2010
Zahra Yamani
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=108654419174440

Isotope shortage hurts Mac research

Apr 16, 2010
Jenni Dunning
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/753790

Taking a stand for science

Science writer Michael Brooks plans to stand in the general election against Bosworth MP David Tredinnick, who wants homeopathy to keep receiving NHS funding
Mar 30, 2010
Michael Brooks
guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2010/mar/30/mp-homeopathy-science

Youth-Driven Innovation in Canada

Now is the time to engage young people in innovation if we want to create the “economy of tomorrow”
Mar 29, 2010
Vinod Rajasekaran
The Mark
http://www.themarknews.com/articles/1212-youth-driven-innovation-in-canada

Canada's deficit in innovation endangers our long-term competitiveness

Mar 30, 2010
JAY BRYAN
The Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Canada+deficit+innovation+endangers+long+term+competitiveness/2741872/story.html

Sales force wanted: Turning R&D into profit

Mar 26, 2010
QMI Agency
http://www.torontosun.com/money/2010/03/26/13372176.html

Feds Fire Back at Tyee's 'Muzzled Scientists' Column

And the column's author responds to Environment Canada's defence of its practices
Apr 1, 2010
Charles Slowey and Mitchell Anderson
TheTyee.ca
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2010/04/01/FedsFireBack/

John McDougall Appointed President of the National Research Council of Canada

Apr 1, 2010
Industry Canada
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/John-McDougall-Appointed-President-of-the-National-Research-Council-of-Canada-1141748.htm

Science writer Simon Singh wins libel appeal

A science writer has won the right to rely on the defence of fair comment in a libel action, in a landmark ruling at the Court of Appeal
Apr 1, 2010
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8598472.stm

Teen to represent Canada at world's biggest science fair

Mar 30, 2010
JULIE GRECO
THE STANDARD
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2513757

UNB gets $1.4 million for research into improving pulp and paper production

Mar 30, 2010
STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
Daily Gleaner
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1000937

Green groups fear for funding

Sixteen local organizations await word on cash as Ottawa reviews its priorities
Mar 30, 2010
BEVERLEY WARE
Chronicle-Herald
http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1174723.html

Climate scientist sues National Post for libel

Apr 21, 2010
Colleen Kimmett
The Tyee.ca
http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Rights-Justice/2010/04/21/WeaverSues/

Government is ignoring environment and jobs in North: report

Auditor-general tells Ottawa to live up to its 2009 commitment to protect, develop and assess changes in N.W.T. and elsewhere
Apr 21, 2010
Mike De Souza
Canwest News Service
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Government+ignoring+environment+jobs+North+report/2933049/story.html

Climate researchers slap Canada for lax emissions record

Apr 21, 2010
Margaret Munro
Canwest News Service
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Climate+researchers+slap+Canada+emissions+record/2935233/story.html

Canada releasing more carcinogens than U.S.: report

Apr 21, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/04/21/toxic-pollution.html

Consumer lights could get boost from green technology

Apr 21, 2010
Denise Deveau
Special to CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/20/led-lighting-technology-environment.html

Make salt cuts mandatory, FDA told

Apr 20, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/04/20/salt-food-fda.html

Massive B.C. dam project approved

Apr 19, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/19/bc-site-c-announcement-peace-river-dam.html

Cankerworm outbreak looms in Winnipeg

Warm, dry spring helped cankerworms but hindered mosquitoes
Apr 19, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/19/mb-cankerworm-spraying-winnipeg.html

Arctic leaders: Lancaster Sound plans in conflict

Apr 19, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/19/lancaster-sound-seismic.html

Government unveils device for storing CO2

Apr 19, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/19/tech-paradis-canco2.html

'Science isn’t there' to support biosolids

NDP betraying policy, says Blois
Apr 18, 2010
GORDON DELANEY
Chronicle-Herald
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1177895.html

Obama predicts Mars landing in his lifetime

Apr 16, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/16/space-obama-mars-landing.html

Atlantic plastic garbage patch found

Apr 16, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/16/tech-atlantic-garbage-patch.html

Measles outbreak spreads north in B.C.

Number of cases hits 44 provincewide
Apr 16, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/04/16/bc-northern-measles-outbreak-spreads.html

Climate science and its discontents: A place in the sun

The scientists in “climategate” did not fudge the data, a report finds
Apr 15, 2010
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/science-technology/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15905891

'Climategate' researchers cleared

Apr 14, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/14/east-anglia-climate-change.html

For maternal health, hope at last

Concrete efforts do pay off. All the more reason to put more energy and ingenuity, not to mention money, toward solving the problem of maternal deaths.
Apr 15, 2010
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/for-maternal-health-hope-at-last/article1534801/

Climate science is settled - the world is warming

Apr 6, 2010
Thomas Mueller
Telegraph-Journal
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/1007536

It pays to give everyone the flu shot, study says

Researchers say universal flu immunization saves more lives and money than targeted doses
Apr 6, 2010
André Picard
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/it-pays-to-give-everyone-the-flu-shot-study-says/article1525434/

8.8 million children die as world spends billions on pet food

Apr 2, 2010
Caroline Riseboro
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/article/789254--8-8-million-children-die-as-world-spends-billions-on-pet-food

You can turn off the lights – or collect solar energy in space

Strategic prize: Space-based satellites can tap ‘an inexhaustible reservoir' of clean, renewable energy by 2050 or earlier
Apr 1, 2010
Neil Reynolds
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/you-can-turn-off-the-lights-or-collect-solar-energy-in-space/article1520485/

B.C. grizzly hunt numbers called excessive

Apr 1, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/01/grizzly-bear-study.html

New isotope reactor ruled out

Too expensive, too long to build: report
Apr 1, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/03/31/ottawa-isotope-reactor-chalk-river.html

Deep freeze caused by melting of ice sheet

Apr 1, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/01/melting-icesheet.html

Toxic N.L. mine hasn't harmed residents: tests

Apr 1, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/04/01/nl-buchans-health-401.html

Clinton backs contraception for maternal health

Mar 31, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/03/30/clinton-contraception.html

Tories suspend ecoEnergy Retrofit program

Mar 31, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/03/31/eco-retrofit.html

Beef producers slam Ottawa over BSE cases

Mar 31, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/03/31/alberta-red-deer-bse-lawsuit-rally-calgary.html

FDA suppressed CT safety concerns: scientist

Mar 31, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/03/31/ct-screening-colonoscopy-fda-radiation-safety.html

Gonorrhea superbug emerging, British expert warns

Sexually transmitted infection showing signs of antibiotic resistance
Mar 30, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/03/30/gonorrhea-antibiotic-resistant-superbug.html

B.C. oil-spill liability unresolved: advocates

Mar 30, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/03/30/bc-living-oceans-oil-spill-costs.html

Measles outbreak hits unvaccinated in B.C.

Mar 30, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/03/30/bc-measles-outbreak.html

Chinese-Canadians respond to stem-cell call

Potential donors rise by record 75 per cent after one-day drives in Richmond, Toronto
Mar 30, 2010
Pamela Fayerman
Vancouver Sun
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Chinese+Canadians+respond+stem+cell+call/2742345/story.html

'D' is for deficiency

Mar 30, 2010
The Ottawa Citizen
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/deficiency/2742352/story.html

Medical isotope reactor down until summer

Mar 30, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/03/30/medical-isotopes-shortage.html

Call for action on Alzheimer's

Mar 29, 2010
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/786700--call-for-action-on-alzheimer-s

Seabirds struggle in warmer North

Mar 29, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/03/29/north-seabirds-climate-change-deaths.html

Herceptin: A wonder drug, but not a miracle

The fast-tracked drug has saved hundreds of Canadian lives, but now the scientist who developed it is calling attention to its drawbacks
Mar 29, 2010
Lisa Priest
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/herceptin-a-wonder-drug-but-not-a-miracle/article1515391/

Flushing out local polluters

By raising a stink while making moves to regulate sewage dumping, the feds hope municipalities will act more quickly
Mar 28, 2010
GREG WESTON
QMI Agency
http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/greg_weston/2010/03/26/13370351.html

N.B. fishermen upset over bass plan

Mar 27, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/03/27/nb-miramichi-bass-fishermen-731.html

Keep your lights on

Mar 27, 2010
National Post
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=2732774

Tighter controls on tanning needed, FDA told

Mar 26, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/03/26/tanning-ban-proposal.html

Health Canada photos contradict message

Protective equipment missing; Despite promoting use of safety gear, agency images differ from policies
Mar 26, 2010
SARAH SCHMIDT
Canwest News Service
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Health+Canada+photos+contradict+message/2727158/story.html