Government, researchers discuss role of evidence-based decision making

Ottawa, ON — The Minister of Science, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, joined Mitacs CEO, Alejandro Adem, along with 10 postdoctoral and faculty fellows from across the country for a roundtable in Ottawa yesterday at Parliament Hill.

The roundtable, hosted by Mitacs, a national, not-for-profit organization that funds research and training, discussed the value of connecting government decision makers and academic researchers to help support policy challenges facing Canada. The fellows are in Ottawa as part a new pilot program, the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship.

The Fellowship sees PhD holders from all disciplines inform policy development, implementation, and/or evaluation in the Government of Canada’s departments and agencies. The new initiative aims to enhance science in policy and support evidence-based decision making within government. Beginning this fall, fellows will spend 12 months in offices across seven federal departments in Ottawa.

Attendees at the roundtable included:

• The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science
• Alison McDermott, Director General, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
• Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director, Mitacs
• Gail Bowkett, Director, Innovation Policy, Mitacs
• Aaron Franks, Canadian Science Policy fellow, Queen’s University. Host: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• Alexandra Mallett, Canadian Science Policy fellow, Carleton University. Host: Natural Resources Canada
• Derek van der Kamp, Canadian Science Policy fellow, University of British Columbia. Host: Office of the Auditor General
• Jacquelyne Poon, Canadian Science Policy fellow, University of Cambridge. Host: Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
• Joelle Thorpe, Canadian Science Policy fellow, Queen’s University. Host: Defence Research and Development Canada
• Justin Marleau, Canadian Science Policy fellow, McGill University. Host: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Kimberly Girling, University of British Columbia. Host: Defence Research and Development Canada
• Marie Claire Brisbois, Canadian Science Policy fellow, University of Waterloo. Host: Natural Resources Canada
• Marija Cemma, Canadian Science Policy fellow, University of Toronto. Host: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Pierre-Olivier Bédard, Canadian Science Policy fellow, Université Laval. Host : Global Affairs Canada 

Quotes:

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

“As the government moves forward with the Review of Fundamental Science, evidence-based decisions will be at the core of policy making. I am excited about the contributions that these new policy Fellows will make to the integration of science and policy making.”

Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director, Mitacs

“Through the Canadian Science Policy Fellowship accomplished academic researchers will have the opportunity to engage first-hand with government policy-makers. Yesterday’s roundtable showcased how their contributions to evidence-based policy-making activities will play a role in contributing to the science policy landscape.”

Alexandra Mallet, Canadian Science Policy Fellow and Assistant Professor, Carleton University

“As someone who has been a strong advocate for science, evidence-based policy making, and policy relevant research, when I saw that there was a newly created Canadian Science Policy Fellowship program, I jumped at the chance to apply.  I’m honoured to be a part of the inaugural cohort. Yesterday, I was afforded the opportunity to have an open discussion with Minister Duncan. What really stuck with me was her overall message – that as Canadians, we can do whatever we want, we must be proud of our science and scientists, and that in wanting to see changes, we must be a part of that process.”

Quick facts:

• The Canadian Science Policy Fellowship is made possible thanks to Professor Sarah Otto, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia; participating federal agencies and departments; the University of Ottawa’s Institute for Science, Society and Policy; and Mitacs’ Science Policy Fellowship Advisory Council.
• Mitacs is a national not-for-profit organization led by Canadian universities that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for more than 16 years.
• Working with 60 universities, thousands of companies, and federal and provincial governments, Mitacs builds partnerships that support industrial and social innovation in Canada.

Links:

• For information about Mitacs and our programs, see mitacs.ca/newsroom.
• Learn more about the Canadian Science Policy Fellows.

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Photo: The Minister of Science, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, and Mitacs CEO, Alejandro Adem.