national science and technology systems canada graham bell president, academy of science (rsc)
TRANSCRIPT
National Science and Technology Systems
CANADA
Graham BellPresident, Academy of Science (RSC)
researchersR
researchersR
?
The first stage is to set priorities. This is a political decision informed by advice given by groups invited by the State, which may or may not include the Academy.
Advice to the Government of Canada is provided by the Science, Technology and Innovation Council
Reports on scientific and technical issues requested by the Government of Canada are prepared by the Council of Canadian Academies
The Council of Canadian Academies is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that began operation in 2006.
The Council supports independent, science-based, expert assessments (studies) that inform public policy development in Canada.
Assessments are conducted by independent, multidisciplinary panels (groups) of experts from across Canada and abroad. The Council’s blue-ribbon panels serve free of charge and many are Fellows of the Council’s member Academies.
The Council’s completed assessments are published and made available to the public free of charge in English and French.
Director: Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Member Academies of the CCA
The Council’s Member Academies are as follows:
RSC: The Academies of the Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada is the senior national body of distinguished Canadian scholars, artists and scientists. The primary objective of the RSC is to promote learning and research in the arts and sciences. The RSC consists of nearly 2,000 Fellows — men and women who are selected by their peers for outstanding contributions to the natural and social sciences, the arts and the humanities. The RSC exists to recognize academic excellence, to advise governments and organizations, and to promote Canadian culture. The Canadian Academy of Engineering is the national institution through which Canada's most distinguished and experienced engineers provide strategic advice on matters of critical importance to Canada. The Academy is an independent, self-governing and non-profit organization established in 1987. Members of the Academy are nominated and elected by their peers to honorary Fellowships, in recognition of their distinguished achievements and career-long service to the engineering profession. Fellows of the Academy are committed to ensuring that Canada’s engineering expertise is applied to the benefit of all Canadians. The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences recognizes individuals of great accomplishment and achievement in the academic health sciences in Canada. The Academy provides timely, informed and unbiased assessments of urgent issues affecting the health of Canadians. CAHS also represents Canada on the InterAcademy Medical Panel (IAMP), a global consortium of national health science academies whose aim is to alleviate the health burdens of the world's poorest people; build scientific capacity for health; and provide independent scientific advice on promoting health science and health care policy to national governments and global organizations.
Board of Governors
The Board of Governors has a unique structure. Each member academy appoints two governors. These six governors then appoint two additional governors from the general public. The remaining four governors are proposed to the Board by the federal Minister of Industry, but are formally appointed by the Board.
Elizabeth Parr-Johnston, C.M., ChairPresident, Parr-Johnston Consultants (Chester Basin, NS)
Richard Drouin, C.C. Counsel, McCarthy Tetrault (Quebec City, QC)
Edna Einsiedel University Professor and Professor of Communication Studies, University of Calgary (Calgary, AB)
Henry Friesen, C.C., FRSC, FCAHS Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellow, Centre for the Advancement of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB)
John Leggat, FCAE Associate Consultant, CFN Consultants (Ottawa, ON)
Preston Manning, C.C. Fellow of the Fraser Institute and President and CEO of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy (Calgary, AB)
Thomas Marrie, FCAHS Dean of Medicine, Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS)
John McLaughlin, FCAE Professor of Engineering and President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick (Fredericton, NB)
Danial Wayner, FRSC Director General, NRC Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences (Ottawa, ON)
Catharine Whiteside, FCAHS Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Vice Provost Relations with Health Care Institutions, University of Toronto (Toronto, ON), and President-Elect, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
SAC Membership
Scientific Advisory CommitteeThe role of this 16-member Committee is to advise the Council’s Board with respect to assessment topic selection, terms of reference, and peer review. The Committee will also be among several sources of advice on selection of expert panelists.The members of SAC are eminent representatives of the broad science community, drawing from the academic, business and non-governmental sectors. Membership reflects balance in terms of discipline, geography, gender and official language community.
Members
Tom Brzustowski, O.C., FRSC, FCAE, Chair RBC Financial Group Professor in the Commercialization of Innovation, University of Ottawa
Michel G. Bergeron, FCAHS Director, Division of Microbiology and le Centre de recherche en infectiologieUniversité Laval
Margaret Conrad, O.C., FRSC Canadian Research Chair in Atlantic Canada Studies, University of New Brunswick
Marcel Côté Founding Partner, SECOR Inc.
Louis Fortier, O.C. Full Professor, Department of Biology, Université Laval
Jean Gray, C.M., FCAHS Professor of Medicine (Emeritus), Dalhousie University
Judith G. Hall, O.C., FCAHS Professor of Pediatrics and medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
John Hepburn, FRSC Vice-President of Research, University of British Columbia
Donald J. Johnston Former Secretary-General of the OECD
Daniel Krewski Professor of Epidemiology and Community Medicine and Scientific Director of the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa
Susan A. McDaniel, FRSC Professor of Sociology and Prentice Research Chair in Global Population & Economy University of Lethbridge
Norbert R. Morgenstern, C.M., FRSC, FCAE University Professor (Emeritus), Civil Engineering, University of Alberta
William Pulleyblank Vice President, Center for Business Optimization, IBM Global Business Services
John P. Smol, FRSC Co-Director of the Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, Queen’s University
Joseph D. Wright, FCAE Retired President and CEO, Pulp & Paper Research Institute (PAPRICAN)
Assessment Publications
The Council of Canadian Academies provides independent, science-based, expert assessments that inform public policy development and decision-making. As such, all Council publications are available online free of charge in English and French.
Better Research for Better Business (May 2009)
The Sustainable Management of Groundwater in Canada (May 2009)
Innovation and Business Strategy: Why Canada Falls Short (April 2009)
Vision for the Canadian Arctic Research Initiative: Assessing the Opportunities (November 2008)
Energy from Gas Hydrates: Assessing the Opportunities and Challenges for Canada (July 2008)
Small is Different: A Science Perspective on the Regulatory Challenges of the Nanoscale (July 2008)
Influenza Transmission and the Role of Personal Protective Respiratory Equipment: An Assessment of the Evidence (December 2007)
The State of Science and Technology in Canada (September 2006)
Assessments in Progress
Approaches to Animal Health Risk AssessmentThe Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), has asked the Council of Canadian Academies to assess the state and comprehensiveness of risk assessment techniques in animal health sciences.
Integrated Testing of PesticidesThe Minister of Health asked the Canadian Council of Academies to assess the scientific status of integrated testing strategies in assessing and regulating the risks of pesticides to both humans and environments.
Research Integrity in the Canadian ContextIndustry Canada asked the Council of Canadian Academies to conduct an assessment examining the key research integrity principles, procedural mechanisms, and appropriate practices for their application across research disciplines and institutions in Canada.
State and Trends of Biodiversity Science in CanadaThe Minister of Canadian Heritage, on behalf of the Canadian Museum of Nature, asked the Council of Canadian Academies to assess the state and trends of biodiversity science in Canada. The charge to the panel focuses specifically on the state of taxonomic and biosystematics research in Canada – research that discovers, distinguishes, identifies, and classifies species of organisms.
What is the RSC? RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada is the senior national body of distinguished Canadian scholars, artists and scientists. It is Canada’s national academy. The primary objective of the RSC is to promote learning and research in the arts and sciences. The RSC consists of nearly 2000 Fellows, men and women who are selected by their peers for outstanding contributions to the natural and social sciences, in the arts and in the humanities.As Canada’s national academy, the RSC exists to recognize academic excellence, to advise governments and organizations, and to promote Canadian culture.
Raison d’êtreNational academies are cultural institutions with three principal responsibilities. The first responsibility of a national academy is to recognize excellence. Most national academies do this through the election of Fellows and the presentation of awards. The second responsibility of a national academy is to provide expert advice on matters of national interest or urgency. The third responsibility of a national academy is to promote its national culture abroad. This occurs in a variety of ways, and includes service on multilateral agencies (G8, UNESCO, IAP), as well as exchange lectureships with other national academies and universities.
Applied Science and Engineering Division
Atmosphere, Ocean and Earth Science Division
Life Science Division
Mathematics and Physical Science Division
Academy IAcademy of the Arts and Humanities
Anglophone Division
Francophone Division
Arts Division
Academy IIAcademy of Social Sciences
Anglophone Division
Francophone Division
Academy IIIAcademy of Science
Royal Society of Canada
APRIL 2010G8+ Academies Summit (Closed-Door Meeting)April 6-8, 2010Ottawa, Ontario
2010 Eastern Ontario regional meeting of the Royal Society of CanadaApril 10, 2010 at 10:00 am - Queen's UniversityDonald Gordon Centre, Union St, Kingston, Ontario
MARCH 2010Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology (WISET)March 17-23, 2010Peterborough & CalgaryMarch 18-24, 2010Montreal & Ottawa RSC Symposium: Atlantic Regional ConferenceMarch 26-27, 2010 - Saint Mary's UniversityScotiabank Theatre - Sobey Building, Halifax, Nova Scotia Taboo Topic Forum - Human Wrongs: Making Things RightMarch 31, 2010 - University of ManitobaWinnipeg
AUGUST 2010IANAS General Assembly MeetingAugust 26-28, 2010Ottawa, Ontario
OCTOBER 2010Annual Symposium: Immigrating to Canada: Who comes? Who stays? Who decides?October 15, 2010 - Canadian Museum of CivilizationGatineau - Ottawa NOVEMBER 2010RSC Annual General Meeting: New Fellow Presentations, Induction & Awards Ceremony and BanquetNovember 26-28, 2010Ottawa, Ontario
Main RSC events 2010
Public documents 2010
G8 Statements
G8 Academies Joint Statement on Health of Women and Children G8 Academies Joint Statement on Innovation for Development
Expert Panels
RSC/CAHS Expert Panel on Early Childhood DevelopmentRSC/SRC Expert Panel on Ocean Climate Change and Marine BiodiversityRSC/SRC Expert Panel on End-of-Life Decision Making (Working Terms of Reference - February 2010)RSC/SRC Expert Panel on Environmental and Health Impacts of Canada’s Oil Sands Industry (Working Terms of Reference)
RSC Business
RSC 2009 Medal and Award RecipientsSeptember 2009, New Fellows (Press Release)2009 New Fellows (Citations)
Government of Canada
Science, Technology and Innovation Council
Council of Canadian Academies
Royal Society of Canada
Academy of Science
Scientific Advisory Committee
Published reports commissioned by
government departments and agencies
Confidential advice as requested by
government; State of the Nation review
Published reports from independent
Expert Panels
Conclusion: the Academy of Science plays little part in the formulation of science policy in Canada.
“Bodies that help to inform the government about science, such as the Council of Canadian Academies, have neither the membership of their US equivalents nor the historical clout of those in Britain. Another reason may be that so much of Canada’s wealth comes from natural resources, including timber and the oil sands, rather than from technical innovation. Perhaps this leads the government to see scientists as just another interest group, rather than as crucial contributors to the economy.”
There has been some external criticism of the current Canadian system. In particular, the role of the Academy is marginal.
researchersR
priorities
The second stage is to put in place the institutional structures necessary to achieve the priorities that have been established.
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Simple (in principle) with a sole provider and end-user
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
More complex when the end-user is not necessarily the provider
Business
Business
Business
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Training is a private good when it can be directly applied within an enterprise that is difficult to leave. The roles of State and Business can diverge when the output of one group of researchers is the input for another group.
Business
Business
Business
R
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
The State may choose to extend the range of support provided by Business by providing a subsidy.
Business
Business
Business
R
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Business
Business
Business
R
EDUCATION
SOCIALBENEFIT
RESEARCH FUNDING SUBSIDY
TRANSFER
The State invests money into education, research funding and subsidy to generate social benefits, transfer of technology and advancement of knowledge.
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Business invests in specialized training and targetted research support to generate profit.
Business
Business
Business
RPROFIT
BERD
APPRENTICESHIP
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Knowledge that leaves the system may or may not drive enhanced external inputs. It is difficult to compare the advancement of knowledge with other outputs, and to measure how it contributes to them.
Business
Business
Business
R
DISSEMINATION
REINFORCEMENT
COLLABORATION
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Business
Business
Business
R
Inputs are Education, especially PhD Research funding Subsidy
Outputs are Dissemination Social benefit, such as monitoring and regulation Transfer from more basic to more applied research Increased business expenditure on R&D
The object of STI strategy is to adjust the inputs so as to optimize the outputs subject to the constraintthat the sum of the inputs is limited by the overall profit generated.
Inputs: education. Canada has excellent basic education, but the proportion of science and engineering degrees is low
Inputs: education. There is a low rate of PhD graduation.
Note: immigration of highly trained young people into Canada is strongly encouraged. This has large direct benefits to the country, but reduces local demand and also reduces the value of PhD training to source countries.
Inputs: research funding. Both federal and provincial funding programs exist. Federal funding is administered by the Department of Industry. There is currently a non-Cabinet Minister for Science.
NSERC Natural Sciences and Engineering
CIHRMedical Bioscience
SSHRCSocial Sciences
Individual operating grants
Support for teams of researchers
Partnerships between university and industry researchers
CFI Canadian Foundation for Innovation : large grants for infrastructure
CRC Canada Research Chairs : support for salary and research
CERC: upgraded CRC program
Inputs: research funding. Canada has an average rate of research funding.
Inputs: research funding. Governments fund research mostly at universities; directly applied research is funded by business.
Inputs: research funding. A high proportion of GDP is devoted to funding research in universities.
Inputs: research funding. Funding to government labs is low and decreasing.
Inputs: subsidy. State subsidy of business research is high but mostly indirect.
Outputs: dissemination. Canadian research is highly cited.
Outputs: transfer. There is a low level of collaboration in Canadian business.
(BERD is Business Expenditure on Research and Development)
Outputs: BERD. The level of in-house research is modest.
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Business
Business
Business
R
STRONG for basic education; WEAK for science degrees and PhD AVERAGE overall;
STRONG for universities, WEAK for state labs
STRONG, mostly indirect
WEAK
WEAK productivity and profitability
STRONG in most fields WEAK
The Canadian system has strong inputs but weak outputs, except in
the advancement of knowledge. This has been found in other systems, including Brazil.
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Business
Business
Business
R
WEAK
The crucial link may be the transfer of knowledge and skills from more basic to more applied research programs.
This has led to a shift towards more directly applicable research funding. Communication between research groups at different levels may be at least as important, but has not often been successfully achieved.
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Business
Business
Business
R
WEAK
A crucial insight may be that the output from one group of researchers forms the input for another group, and that planning this supply chain may be an important aspect of future strategies.
There is no good scientific reason that the research groups in this supply chain should be in the same country. There are political reasons that might be overcome with the help of IANAS.
R
Train
Support
Use
(lost from system)
(external inputs)
State
State
State
Business
Business
Business
R
WEAK
One possibility might be to create programs designed to support short visits to foreign laboratories to acquire new skills. This would be an element in an international strategy for science and technology for the western hemisphere as a whole.
A document drafted by IANAS, signed by its member Academies, and presented to each government in the region by its Academy might be an appropriate way of preparing the way for programs of this sort.