Tag Archives: science and society

Adding Shades of Grey into Science Policy

I was forwarded two articles last month (thanks Mike O!) from the world of Australian science policy.  In these articles, the debate centred on whether or not academics should be involved in making public policy.   The article that started the … Continue reading

Posted in General, Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Science in the federal government

Two recent news stories: 1. Ottawa silences scientist over West Coast salmon study “Top bureaucrats in Ottawa have muzzled a leading fisheries scientist whose discovery could help explain why salmon stocks have been crashing off Canada’s West Coast, according to … Continue reading

Posted in Jobs, Policy, Science Communication | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Notch 4 in the STIC – The 30 year old question: Why does Canada lag in R&D spending?

Many reports have been written over the past 30 years about Canada and its R&D spending, and they clamour one after the other about Canada’s relative lack of investment into R&D.  We’ve been through periods of deep cutbacks and periods … Continue reading

Posted in Financial, Jobs, Policy, STIC Report Analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Notch 2 in the STIC: Federal R&D spending, Direct vs. Indirect Funding

One of the most obvious statistics that jumps out of the Science Technology and Innovation Council’s report is the method by which the Government of Canada elects to fund research and development. Funding was broken apart into two categories: direct funding (grants, … Continue reading

Posted in Policy, STIC Report Analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Notch 1 in the STIC: The Production of PhDs – What Do We Do With Them?

In this first installment of our summer series on the Science, Technology and Innovation Council’s 2010 State of the Nation report, I’m going to take a look at some of the data on who’s getting an education in science and … Continue reading

Posted in Education and Training, STIC Report Analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2011 Summer Blog Series: Notches in the STIC

Over the last few weeks, Beth and I have been trying to identify a good topic for a summer series that our readers might enjoy.  Just in time, offering the glue to hold our scattered ideas together, the Science, Technology … Continue reading

Posted in Education and Training, Jobs, Policy, STIC Report Analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Identifying good scientists and keeping them honest

In a February 2011 interview with Lab Times, Cambridge scientist Peter Lawrence1 reflects on his own career and complains that “the heart of research is sick” as he charts the changes in the way in which science is pursued.  Briefly, … Continue reading

Posted in Education and Training, Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Quick Hit: Representin’ at the Northern Voice Blogging Conference

I’m at the Northern Voice blogging conference today. I usually attend this conference as a personal blogger, but today I’m also going to be sitting on a panel of science bloggers, representing The Black Hole: The Naked Truth: Canadian Science … Continue reading

Posted in Science Communication | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick Hit: New CIHR / Health Canada Science Policy Fellowships

An interesting development for those interested in getting more involved in the science policy world…  CIHR and Health Canada have joined forces to offer fellowships in science policy The Science Policy Fellowships program will allow researchers at the doctoral, post-doctoral, … Continue reading

Posted in Jobs, Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Canadian Cancer Society Grant Programs (draft released)

The Canadian Cancer Society is the largest charitable funder of cancer research in Canada and they have undertaken a rather substantial redesign of their funding programs.  Late last week, I received a draft version of the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute’s … Continue reading

Posted in General, Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment