Science Canada

Official says 'there is no debate' about enlisting more than one flu-shot manufacturer in future pandemics to avoid current delivery delays
Nov 6, 2009
DANIEL LEBLANC AND PAUL WALDIE
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/h1n1-swine-flu/canada-needs-two-vaccine-suppliers-ottawa-admits/article1353348/

Burning dead wood in forests won't help climate, expert says

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:13 PM

Nov 6, 2009
Hanneke Brooymans
Edmonton Journal
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/Burning+dead+wood+forests+help+climate+expert+says/2191703/story.html

Prison hep C problem will cost millions, MPs told

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:13 PM

Nov 6, 2009
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/11/06/hepatitisc-prison-health-care.html

UNSM hears of future sea level rise

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:12 PM

Municipalities’ representatives in Halifax for conference
Nov 6, 2009
MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE
Chronicle-Herald
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1151365.html

The case against action on climate change

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:12 PM

Nov 6, 2009
Rudyard Griffiths
National Post
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/11/06/rudyard-griffiths-the-case-against-action-on-climate-change.aspx

From Berlin to Copenhagen

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:12 PM

Nov 6, 2009
Peter Foster
Financial Post
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=2191954

H1N1 hospital admissions, deaths up three-fold: health officials

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:11 PM

Canada's chief public health officer cautions against thinking worst is over, saying: ‘until people are either immunized or become ill this could go on and will go on for several months yet'
Nov 5, 2009
Caroline Alphonso
Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/h1n1-hospital-admissions-deaths-up-three-fold-health-officials/article1352508/

Drug safety provisions in US and Europe outshine Canada

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:11 PM

Nov 5, 2009
CMAJ
http://www.cmaj.ca/earlyreleases/05nov09_risk.shtml

McGill removes research regulation

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:11 PM

Senators critical of McGill’s stance on military research and anonymous funding
Nov 5, 2009
Stephanie Law
McGill Daily
http://mcgilldaily.com/articles/22341

Oshawa cracks Maclean's annual university list

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:10 PM

School cited for grants, spending on services
Nov 5, 2009
Jennifer Yang
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/721412--oshawa-cracks-maclean-s-annual-university-list?bn=1

Climate change and public opinion: (Not yet) marching as to war

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:10 PM

Even as politicians and protesters gear up for a fateful climate-change meeting in Denmark, some of their fellow citizens have little stomach for a fight
Nov 5, 2009
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/world/international/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14807107

Climate change: For peat's sake, stop

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:10 PM

The world’s wetlands are big sources of greenhouse gases
Nov 5, 2009
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14793393

Nanobiotechnology: Seeding the seeds

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:09 PM

Carbon nanotubes find an unusual use as fertilisers
Nov 5, 2009
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14793403

Agriculture and satellites: Harvest moon

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:09 PM

Artificial satellites are helping farmers boost crop yields
Nov 5, 2009
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14793411

‘Largest tax increase in world history’

Posted by Jeff Sharom at 9:08 PM

Despite huge spending, it has not been proved that the human effect on the climate is significant
Nov 5, 2009
Václav Klaus
Financial Post
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/11/05/v-225-clav-klaus-largest-tax-increase-in-world-history.aspx

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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

Ottawa calls inquiry into collapse of sockeye fishery

Justice to head Fraser River salmon inquiry

H1N1 overplayed by media, public health: MDs

Caribbean, Gulf spared widespread coral damage

The planet's lonely optimist

Canada needs two vaccine suppliers, Ottawa admits

Burning dead wood in forests won't help climate, expert says

Prison hep C problem will cost millions, MPs told

UNSM hears of future sea level rise

The case against action on climate change

From Berlin to Copenhagen

H1N1 hospital admissions, deaths up three-fold: health officials

Drug safety provisions in US and Europe outshine Canada

McGill removes research regulation

Oshawa cracks Maclean's annual university list

Climate change and public opinion: (Not yet) marching as to war

Climate change: For peat's sake, stop

Nanobiotechnology: Seeding the seeds

Agriculture and satellites: Harvest moon

‘Largest tax increase in world history’

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