Science Canada: 06/19/10

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Devils of Details: Getting Scientists to Understand How Policy Making Works

June 16, 2010
The Black Hole: Science in Canada - Issues Affecting Trainees
http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2010/06/16/devils-of-details-getting-scientists-to-understand-how-policy-making-works/

Canada falls down on commercialization

‘We are fabulous engineers but we are terrible business people because we are risk adverse and find reasons not to do things’
Jun 14, 2010
Mark Evans
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/your-business/start/mark-evans/canada-falls-down-on-commercialization/article1603149/?cid=art-rail-top40under402009

Alberta's prosperity far from assured

Province lags in innovation, venture capital
Jun 12, 2010
Gary Lamphier
Edmonton Journal
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Alberta+prosperity+from+assured/3145436/story.html

Innovation key to future

GE Canada CEO addresses oil and gas conference
Jun 19, 2010
DAVE BARTLETT
The Telegram
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=344115&sc=82

He's chasing a Holy Grail... at 16

Science whiz's dream: a Nobel; Marymount student has a mess of medals, but makes time for other stuff, too
Jun 18, 2010
CHLOE FEDIO
The Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/chasing+Holy+Grail/3168959/story.html

Grand plans dashed for new science museum

Jun 12, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100612/science-museum-location-100612/20100612/?hub=OttawaHome

20 firms to receive research funding

Jun 19, 2010
Dave Hall
The Windsor Star
http://www.windsorstar.com/business/firms+receive+research+funding/3174156/story.html

Government of Canada Invests in Community Environmental Projects in the Okanagan

Jun 19, 2010
Environment Canada
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Government-of-Canada-Invests-in-Community-Environmental-Projects-in-the-Okanagan-1278616.htm

Construction of New Federally Funded Technology Centre Under Way at Universite de Moncton

Jun 14, 2010
Industry Canada
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Construction-New-Federally-Funded-Technology-Centre-Under-Way-Universite-de-Moncton-1275540.htm

Ontario Leading The Way In Water Opportunities

Premier McGuinty Addresses Inaugural Canadian Water Summit
June 17, 2010
Office of the Premier, Government of Ontario
http://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2010/06/ontario-leading-the-way-in-water-opportunities.html

Ontario Paves The Way For Electric Vehicles

McGuinty Government Supporting Clean Transportation
Jun 18, 2010
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2010/06/ontario-paves-the-way-for-electric-vehicles.html

Canadian Biotech Bench Strength Devoted to Taking Canada Beyond Moose and Mountains, and into the Economy of the Future

Jun 18, 2010
BIOTECanada
http://www.financialpost.com/Canadian+Biotech+Bench+Strength+Devoted+Taking+Canada+Beyond+Moose+Mountains+andinto+Economy+Future/3171684/story.html

Turnover at Balsillie school raises questions of academic freedom

Joint venture between Waterloo universities and BlackBerry entrepreneur’s private think tank feeling tension about who calls the shots
Jun 17, 2010
Elizabeth Church
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/turnover-at-balsillie-school-raises-questions-of-academic-freedom/article1608394/

Will the gannets in the oil-drenched Gulf return?

As northern gannets in the Gaspé guard their eggs, scientists worry the display may be much diminished in years to come
Jun 18, 2010
CINDA CHAVICH
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/will-the-gannets-in-the-oil-drenched-gulf-return/article1609184/

Harbour sewage probe still underway

Jun 18, 2010
MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE
Chronicle-Herald
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1187958.html

Farm progress show all about tech

Jun 18, 2010
Barbara Woolsey
Saskatchewan News Network
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Farm+progress+show+about+tech/3169613/story.html

Japan could scupper whaling ban

Jun 18, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/18/japan-whaling-ban.html

Nearly all stroke risk preventable: study

June 18, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/06/17/stroke-prevent.html

Arctic seismic tests opposed by eco group

Jun 18, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2010/06/18/lancaster-sound-letter.html

Diabetes diagnoses expected to surge: report

Jun 18, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/06/16/diabetes-cases-canada.html

Female libido pill rejected by U.S. panel

Jun 18, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/06/18/female-viagra-libido.html

Two million Canadians will get diabetes this decade, shows study

Jun 17, 2010
Mike Barber
Canwest News Service
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/canada/million+Canadians+will+diabetes+this+decade+shows+study/3165490/story.html

Mosquito fogging begins in Winnipeg

Jun 17, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/06/17/mb-mosquito-fogging-winnipeg.html

Ash borer threatens Ottawa farm's rare trees

June 17, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/17/ottawa-emerald-ash-borer-central-experimental-farm.html

Aboriginal babies more likely to die: study

Access to urban health care doesn't lower mortality rates
Jun 17, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/06/17/man-infant-mortality-cp-manitoba.html

Research intelligence - Science's man in the lobby

As an ex-parliamentary researcher, CaSE's new head knows his way around the corridors of power
June 17, 2010
Paul Jump
Times Higher Education
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=412067&c=1

Scientists explore storing CO2 in rock

Jun 17, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/17/carbon-sequestration-iceland.html

H1N1 swaps genes with other pig viruses: study

Jun 17, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/17/h1n1-swine-genes.html

Japan's space programme: A blaze of glory

The Japanese chalk up two successes in space
Jun 17, 2010
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/node/16374480

A special report on the human genome: Biology 2.0

A decade after the human-genome project, writes Geoffrey Carr (interviewed here), biological science is poised on the edge of something wonderful
Jun 17, 2010
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/node/16349358

How to improve the IPCC

Code of conduct and rapid communication are key, scientists tell review panel
Jun 16, 2010
Hannah Hoag
Nature
http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100616/full/news.2010.302.html

BP pledges $20B fund for oil spill claims

Fund to be managed by independent 3rd party, Obama says
Jun 16, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/16/obama-bp-executives.html

Polar bear habitat plan draws fire in Alaska

484,000 square kilometres, largely sea ice, deemed critical
Jun 16, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/16/polar-bears-alaska.html

U.S. doubles spending on bike, walking paths

Jun 16, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/06/16/con-obama-bicycles.html

Mercury in N.W.T. lakes sparks health advisory

Jun 16, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/06/16/nwt-lake-mercury-fish.html

San Francisco proposes cellphone radiation law

Jun 16, 2010
The Associated Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/16/con-sf-cell-radiation.html

AECL wants Chalk River reactor operating by end of July

Medical isotope shortage because of rector closing led to one-fifth fewer tests, report says
Jun 16, 2010
Sarah Boesveld
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/aecl-wants-chalk-river-reactor-operating-by-end-of-july/article1607040/

Chalk River reactor ready to restart: AECL

Jun 16, 2010
Ian MacLeod
The Ottawa Citizen
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Chalk+River+reactor+ready+restart+AECL/3163184/story.html

Species loss is a silent epidemic that threatens our planet

Jun 16, 2010
David Suzuki with Faisal Moola
The Canadian Press
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/science-matters-species-loss-is-a-silent-epidemic-that-threatens-our-planet-96491229.html

Canada's pandemic vaccine maker to block release of deal

Jun 16, 2010
ELIZABETH THOMPSON
SUN MEDIA
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/06/16/14415806.html

The Fraser Institute: Sustainable Water Exports Possible With Reformed Canadian Water Policies

Jun 16, 2010
The Fraser Institute
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Fraser-Institute-Sustainable-Water-Exports-Possible-With-Reformed-Canadian-Water-Policies-1276814.htm

‘Male menopause’ symptoms revealed, but not without skeptics

Jun 16, 2010
Shereen Dindar
National Post
http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/06/16/male-menopause-symptoms-revealed-but-there-are-skeptics/

Creation redux: A powerful tool for redesigning life

The risks of synthetic biology are outweighed by the hope it may help us avert environmental catastrophe
Jun 15, 2010
Peter Singer
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/creation-redux-a-powerful-tool-for-redesigning-life/article1603949/

Tories put climate change on G8 agenda

Jun 15, 2010
Steve Rennie
The Canadian Press
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/g8/article/823391--tories-put-climate-change-on-g8-agenda

B.C. inquiry into 10 million missing salmon begins

Jun 15, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/15/bc-cohen-salmon-inquiry.html

Charest, McGuinty to talk climate-change plan

Jun 15, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/15/mcguinty-charest.html

Quebec and Ontario eye cap-and-trade system to cut carbon

Jun 15, 2010
Rob Ferguson
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/824053--quebec-and-ontario-eye-cap-and-trade-system-to-cut-carbon

Joint cabinet meeting a chance to chart green Canadian future

Jun 15, 2010
Sidney Ribaux and Rick Smith
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/823490--joint-cabinet-meeting-a-chance-to-chart-green-canadian-future

Court asked to weigh gay rights and blood policy

At the heart of the case is the question: Does the donation process protect recipients at the price of discrimination?
Jun 15, 2010
Natalie Stechyson
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/court-asked-to-weigh-gay-rights-and-blood-policy/article1605732/

Deepwater oil drill record excellent: Chevron

Jun 15, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/15/chevron-deepwater-oil-drill-615.html

B.C. orcas lack protection, court told

Jun 15, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/15/bc-ecojustice-orcas-lawsuit.html

U.S. pollution legacy flagged in Labrador town

Jun 15, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/15/hopedale-pollution-legacy-meeting-615.html

Aerial polar bear survey tested in Baffin Bay

Jun 15, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/15/nunavut-baffin-bay-polar-bears.html

No way to clean up oil spill under Arctic ice: Expert

Jun 15, 2010
Andrew Mayeda
Canwest News Service
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/clean+spill+under+Arctic+Expert/3158005/story.html

Disband Canada's fertility-industry watchdog: MP

Jun 15, 2010
Tom Blackwell
National Post
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Disband+fertility+industry+monitor/3156448/story.html

Panel asks gov't to encourage less sodium intake

Jun 15, 2010
MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iuTQi_aNAaDX4fMjQSxw4OiYJpegD9GBQG700

Albertans must develop thicker skin about oilsands

Jun 15, 2010
Paul Stanway
Calgary Herald
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Albertans+must+develop+thicker+skin+about+oilsands/3155535/story.html

Thinning on top

Predicting the Arctic’s summer fate is not so simple
Jun 15, 2010
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/node/16369706

Western leaders to talk clean and green at annual meeting in Vancouver

Jun 14, 2010
Dirk Meissner
The Canadian Press
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/western-leaders-to-talk-clean-and-green-at-annual-meeting-in-vancouver--96340069.html

Arctic drilling review seeks public input

Jun 14, 2010
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/14/arctic-drilling-neb.html

Board bid foiled for frustrated MS patients

Jun 14, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20100614/ms-board-ccsvi-100614/

MS Society of Canada “a house divided,” CEO says

Anger and insurrection disrupt annual meeting
Jun 14, 2010
Anne Kingston
Macleans
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/06/14/ms-society-of-canada-a-house-divided-ceo-says/

Ottawa fails to lead on isotopes

Government has ignored expert panel’s key recommendation for new reactor
Jun 14, 2010
Jatin Nathwani & Donald Wallace
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/822618--ottawa-fails-to-lead-on-isotopes

'Green light' for global biodiversity science panel

Jun 14, 2010
Mark Kinver
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10307761.stm

Gulf oil spill ‘wake-up call’ for Ontario, groups warn McGuinty

Jun 14, 2010
The Canadian Press
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/article/823162--gulf-oil-spill-wake-up-call-for-ontario-groups-warn-mcguinty

This science is fishy

Jun 18, 2010
Terence Corcoran
Financial Post
http://www.financialpost.com/This+science+fishy/3169251/story.html

Junk Science Week: Solar junk economics

The authors assume 16 indirect jobs for every solar employee
Jun 16, 2010
William Watson
Financial Post
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2010/06/16/junk-science-week-solar-junk-economics/

Junk Science Week: Hope mongering

Media promotes the opposite of scare mongering
Jun 14, 2010
Terence Corcoran
Financial Post
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2010/06/14/hope-mongering/#more-2112

Junk Science Week: Salt scare lacks solid evidence

Canada should call for a trial to test the science
Jun 14, 2010
David McCarron
Financial Post
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2010/06/14/junk-science-week-salt-scare-lacks-solid-evidence/#more-2104

Junk Science Week: The missing smog dead

Repeated claims of thousands of victims fail basic statistical tests
Jun 15, 2010
Peter Shawn Taylor
Financial Post
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2010/06/15/junk-science-week-the-missing-smog-dead/

Junk Science Week: The devil you know

Replacing products with low levels of bisphenol A with less-studied materials will have unknown effects
Jun 16, 2010
Julie E. Goodman
Financial Post
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2010/06/16/junk-science-week-the-devil-you-know/

Junk Science Week: Climate junk hard to dump

Why would scientists allow themselves to be recruited to essentially political objectives?
Jun 15, 2010
Peter Foster
Financial Post
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2010/06/15/junk-science-week-climate-junk-hard-to-dump/

Feds' isotope plans too short-sighted, critics say

Jun 13, 2010
Meagan Fitzpatrick
Canwest News Service
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Feds+isotope+plans+short+sighted+critics/3149387/story.html

Harper pressured to put climate change on G8, G20 agenda

Jun 13, 2010
Mike De Souza
Canwest News Service
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Harper+pressured+climate+change+agenda/3149140/story.html

Millions of litres of pollutants dumped in cities: analysis

Jun 13, 2010
Steve Rennie
The Canadian Press
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/823043--millions-of-litres-of-pollutants-dumped-in-cities-analysis?bn=1

Arctic Ocean ice retreating at 30-year record pace

Jun 13, 2010
Randy Boswell
Canwest News Service
http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Arctic+Ocean+retreating+year+record+pace/3149267/story.html

Push Canadian population to 100 million, scholar argues

Jun 12, 2010
Ian MacLeod
Canwest News Service
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Push+Canadian+population+million+scholar+argues/3147619/story.html

The sleep of reason produces monsters. Or at least oil-covered pelicans

Forget the Enlightenment; this is the Endarkenment
Jun 12, 2010
Peter Scowen
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/columnists/the-sleep-of-reason-produces-monsters-or-at-least-oil-covered-pelicans/article1603315/

Remaking the University of Winnipeg

Lloyd Axworthy’s ambitious mission has drawn prominent backers – and a few grumblers
Jun 11, 2010
Jeffrey Simpson
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/remaking-the-university-of-winnipeg/article1601582/

MS societies to fund research into controversial theory

After months of agitation from some patients, Canadian and U.S. societies put up $2.4-million to probe links between CCSVI and MS
Jun 11, 2010
Adrian Morrow
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/ms-societies-to-fund-research-into-controversial-theory/article1601709/