Expert Views in the Media during Canadian and Swedish Elections: Educative or Entertaining?
Ăric Montpetit and PerOla Ăberg
As governments struggle to keep pace with rapid advancements in science and technology, a new report by the Institute for Research on Public Policy and the Canadian Academy of Engineering outlines how governments can better incorporate that knowledge in policy-making processes and improve the quality of government decisions. Prepared by the IRPP and the CAE, this report summarizes the issues that were raised over the course of the six round tables and draws out the main policy points that emerged from the discussion.
Amid rapid scientific and technological change and increasing complexity, there is growing concern about the ability of governments to absorb the findings of scientific research and technological advancements; incorporate this new knowledge in the development of legislation, policy and regulation; and conduct the scientific research in support of their missions.
Uncertainty surrounding the direction of science, technology and their intersection with public policy demands vigorous public exploration and debate of several questions, among them the following:
To spark debate on some of these questions, the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) and the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) held a series of events in six cities across Canada between March and June 2015.1 Held under the Chatham House Rule to ensure meaningful exchanges, these round tables brought together senior public servants, elected officials, business leaders, academic experts and stakeholders for an open exchange on the role that science and technology has played and should play in the development of public policy, a frank assessment of where we are today and recommendations on how the relationship between science and public policy might be better aligned.2
Prepared by the IRPP and the CAE, this report summarizes the issues that were raised over the course of the six round tables and draws out the main policy points that emerged from the discussion. Thus the report has been tremendously enriched by the expertise and insights of those who took part in the consultation exercise. That said, responsibility for the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made in the report remains that of the IRPP and the CAE.
From the outset, it was important to draw a distinction between âscience policyâ and âscience in public policy.â The first term generally refers to public sector support for scientific research; the latter focuses instead on how science can better inform policy decisions. While we acknowledge the importance of public funding for scientific and technological research, it was made clear that the focus of this series was to be on the contribution of science to the formulation of public policy.
This almost inevitably led to the question: âWhat do we mean by science?â Is technology to be inferred in all contexts and circumstances? âTechnologyâ is a commonly used term that required definition for the participants. It was defined as scientific knowledge that had been turned into useful products and services through design, usually performed by professional engineers.
And what about the social sciences? Is this analysis to be limited to the natural sciences, or are we considering the role of economics or political science as well in this analysis? These are obviously interconnected issues. It was agreed that the focus would be on the natural sciences and technologies, but that the observations made and the conclusions drawn could well be relevant for social sciences as well. In addition, while we acknowledged that the relationship between science and public policy would be different depending on the specific field, considering the relationship in general terms would prove more useful in articulating recommendations to governments. And in keeping with that assessment, it was agreed that, for the purposes of the round table discussions, technological expertise would, unless otherwise indicated, be âread intoâ our definition of science.
At a basic level, the role of science is to provide an evidence base for decisions. At its core, science is neutral. It is neither good nor bad. It has no inherent propulsion to implementation, or value, until it is applied or interpreted by human beings. The same scientific knowledge, applied differently, can lead to untold progress or horrific ends. The âAtom for Peaceâ was given as an example of the former, while the 70th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is a stark reminder of the latter. It is therefore the manner in which governments collect, assess and use science that is at issue. Some participants suggested that, in this postmodernist age, the idea that science is neutral is being challenged: depending on the hypotheses posited during the beginning of the experiment, different results could be obtained. This concern is particularly acute in the realm of economic and social sciences.
Early in the discussion, participants acknowledged that a great deal of knowledge transfer already occurs from the scientific and technological communities to government policy-making processes. And while the challenges that exist today are significant, there is a risk of falling into the âGolden Age Trapâ â of imagining an earlier time in which governments of all political stripes and at all levels based their decisions on the evidence provided by science, with little regard for other considerations.
In the view of many participants, there was never a golden age of scientific knowledge and credibility that had a direct line to government. In fact, as one participant put it, âSTEM thinkingâ is not aligned with âhuman thinkingâ and in some ways is antithetical to human psychology, which wants to grasp at a quick solution that has the âfeeling of truth.â This makes the case for the need to structure the way we incorporate science into policy-making, but also makes the point that, in the big picture, we are actually making remarkable progress integrating rigorous science into public decisions.
In a sense, our challenge lies elsewhere and has more to do with the nature of the policy problems and the policy-making process that we are trying to address.
Indeed, scientific evidence plays a different role in situations in which the research is conclusive versus situations in which there is conflicting evidence and we are dealing in âtransitory truths.â In the first case, evidence can be used to confirm a course of action and reassure the public that it is the âright thing to do.â In the second case, evidence must be used to support government efforts to manage policy issues, taking into account the pitfalls of uncertainty.
At all round tables, a great deal of time was spent discussing uncertainty, complexity and truth â the consideration of which is only recently becoming more integrated and in-depth. Put bluntly, science is often unable to answer with certainty questions that pertain to real-life situations and issues that confront governments. Expert knowledge is rarely holistic and many controversies come out of credible but competing evidence. Moreover, individual scientists and policy-makers may draw very different conclusions from the same information. The input of science into policy should therefore be viewed, not as advice on what should be done, but rather in terms of what is known, what is unknown and how sure we are about it.
This uncertainty opens the possibility of governments cherry-picking the evidence to support the answer they want, which aligns with an already-established policy direction. It is therefore imperative to monitor the evidence that is highlighted, as well as the evidence that is ignored. Of course, this is as true of citizens as it is of governments and parliamentarians. Selective acceptance of facts often occurs, as people often use science to bolster their preconceived, non-scientific opinions. As one participant put it, knowing the anti-science is just as important as knowing the science. What, for instance, are people being told that makes them wary of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or vaccines? Even the more educated may adopt the postmodern theory of knowledge to discount science and the scientific method as socially constructed, and to argue that objectivity doesnât exist.
In response, one way for governments to handle uncertainty is to adopt the concept of âflexible commitment.â It is not about eliminating all risk or nailing down certainty, but rather defining decision points at which plans for achieving a set goal will be revised and changed if necessary, on the basis of the evidence gathered up to that point.
In addition, decision-makers and the public need to better understand the differences among problems that are simple, complicated and complex. In contrast to the simple problem and the complicated problem (understood to be a âbigger simpleâ problem), the complex problem has multiple causes and repercussions, thereby blurring lines between causes and effects.
Complex problems therefore pose fundamental challenges to the way we think about public policy and organize scientific research to inform it. Complex problems challenge the notion that we need to understand the causes before we explore solutions, and these problems require multidisciplinary inputs.
As we think about the role of science in policy-making, it is also important to make a distinction between long- and short-term policy: reactive policy-making under pressure, such as dealing with epidemics, looks different from strategizing or planning, the type needed to deal with climate change or accomplish energy transitions. We also need to acknowledge the different time horizons used by the scientific community on the one hand and governments on the other: evidence-based policy is good, but collecting the evidence takes a long time.
Finally, it is critically important to keep in mind the difference between âevidence-basedâ and âevidence-informedâ policy-making: scientific findings may be a critically important factor in policy-making, but it is one of many. Decision-makers do use scientific evidence and information, but their perspective or concerns need to be much broader. They have to weigh the economic, social and political environment to decide what can be accomplished. These other factors, such as available resources, ethical considerations and public opinion, also shape decisions.
In sum, the role of science in policy development is to do the following:
If there was agreement that science has an important role to play in the development of public policy, there was also agreement on the fact that connecting both worlds presents significant challenges. The scientific and public policy communities are animated by very different cultures and often behave as two solitudes.
Scientists and engineers bring to the organizations that employ them a distinctive culture based on strongly held values. This culture is characterized by a high degree of interaction among scientists and engineers based on knowledge and expertise, rather than position or rank; on external peer review and assessment, rather than deference to internal organizational authority. Recognition among them is based on intellectual performance as judged by their peers, rather than recognition from organizational superiors. These values distinguish the scientific and engineering culture from the bureaucratic culture that is usually the norm in government and other large organizations.
Derived primarily from the broader international scientific community, scientific values are remarkably consistent worldwide, despite the major cultural differences that exist between populations. Results of a survey of scientists in government laboratories in Japan, for example, revealed the same strongly held values expressed by Canadian scientists and engineers in a similar survey.
In many ways, that distinctive scientific culture is incompatible with the structures and processes of the public sector, which makes the connection between those two worlds difficult to maintain. In the view of participants, both sides would do well to invest in better understanding the other. Much could be gained by examining and emulating best practices for the design and management of large science and technology (S&T) organizations. Well-managed S&T organizations respect and nurture these scientific and engineering values and build on them. They strive to protect the scientific values of their S&T teams, while engaging them in the fulfillment of the organizationâs scientific capabilities. To this end, they have developed a set of structural arrangements and management approaches that are remarkably consistent. The four major components are the following: (1) well-defined missions; (2) appropriate organizational structures and linkages; (3) effective human resources management; and (4) rigorous management systems.
Our complex world commands that decision-making processes be informed by scientific evidence and knowledge. International and interdisciplinary scientific collaboration that brings together the collective capacity of a broad range of scientific fields, including those focused on human, health, social and ethical dimensions, is a prerequisite to sound policy-making.
If there was a strong consensus on the basic point, there was also great diversity in the ways to address it. By and large, the suggestions can be grouped under the following headings:
Regarding education and recruitment, it was often remarked that students aiming for a career in government or in science learn precious little about the other field. More than one participant recommended that academic curricula be reviewed to bridge the divide by providing students with more opportunities to increase their knowledge of the other world and learn to âspeak its language.â It was noted that students are in fact interested in bridging disciplines and the science/policy gaps, but also very worried about getting jobs. Providing such opportunities would therefore align with their learning preferences and enhance their preparedness for their eventual careers.
Participants also noted that the situation does not improve much once those students have launched their careers. Incentives in academia donât reward public engagement and public communication but rather push toward specialization, whereas sound policy-making requires broader and integrative competencies. How can value be created for scientists and engineers to spend time collaborating with government, and how can bureaucracies be restructured to allow for a freer flow of outside experts in and out of the machinery of government? As a starting point, it was suggested that we look at the practices in the United States, where universities have addressed the silos or noncommunication problem by giving much more recognition to public sector work. Canadian universities, on the other hand, continue to focus exclusively on publications in peer-reviewed journals in making decisions about tenure and promotion. The example of the Clifford Clark Visiting Economist, whereby a senior economist from business or academia is embedded within the Department of Finance policy apparatus for a two-year period, provides a template to emulate.
There was some discussion about the role of government departments in providing dual science/policy career paths for their employee scientists. It was noted that this had been offered within the federal government but that there was very little take-up among scientists.
Similarly, intermediaries with strong understanding of both sides are crucial and should be found at all levels within government departments and agencies. While it is crucial that senior public servants and elected officials understand the importance of science in policy-making, oftentimes, policy-making doesnât happen at the most senior levels and emerges from clusters of officials across departments. The availability of individuals who are familiar with science must therefore be distributed across the bureaucracy. Internal capability is needed to allow continual engagement with scientists and have the capability to distinguish âgoodâ science from fads and disguised advocacy. This could take the form of âembeddingâ more scientists at all stages in the policy process, but should also mean including more policy-makers in the processes of scientific research.
Perhaps not surprisingly, there was a great deal of discussion and debate on the role of scientists in providing advice. Although the discussions on evidence-based policy are generally framed in terms of scientific contributions to the design of policies, we were also given examples of scientific advice assisting government in avoiding very costly mistakes.
First, an important statement was made by scientists themselves at a number of round tables that scientists had to give advice proactively if they wanted a voice in policy-making. It was not sufficient to provide answers to questions that had been put to them by decision-makers. They also had a responsibility to anticipate future needs and volunteer their advice on issues that were likely to surface. As one participant put it, the âpullâ created by policy demand is important, but so, too, is the âpushâ created by scientific inquiry: to build a strong relationship between science and government, both sides need to be prepared to give and receive advice, and should be prepared to do so unsolicited. We were told that some government labs had already done this by having groups identify and research areas that they felt would be important at some point in the future.
In ensuring that these linkages are effective, we should distinguish among the many functions of scientific evidence, such as regulation and oversight; knowledge creation; and knowledge translation, aggregation and interpretation. In some cases, it may be appropriate for those functions to be handled internally; in others, the function might well be properly filled by outside expertise. By and large, participants felt that governments should focus on maintaining an internal capability to provide an independent assessment of the quality and relevance of the research done externally. This internal capability should be able to âmanageâ conflicting evidence and make determinations about the relative reliability of different sources. And it should focus its research on those areas and disciplines that cannot adequately be covered by universities or the private sector. The ideal network of science includes public, private and academic sector expertise; but for reasons related to the public good or national security, certain functions might best be centred within government. It was also suggested that the function of defining what constitute scientific âfactsââ for example, Is climate change primarily anthropogenic? Do vaccines cause autism? â could be assigned to the purview of professional scientific organizations such as the three Canadian academies (the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the Royal Society of Canada, and the CAE) or the Engineering Institute of Canada.
With regard to the structures of engagement, participants agreed that the most successful structures linking scientific expertise to the policy process involve many disciplines. It is also important that the research function not be compartmentalized: âde-siloingâ the research function is a critical determinant of success. Moreover, given the growing complexity of policy problems, the command-and-control structure must give way to the network. Interdisciplinary cooperation and dialogue are crucial to counteract the tendency to work in silos.
To be effective, the networks must also be engaged at multiple stages in the policy process and, ideally, at a time when decision-makers are genuinely uncertain about the direction they want to take and open-minded about the various options. It must also be acknowledged that each component in the network speaks a different language and operates on different time horizons. These issues bring challenges that need to be recognized. For instance, it was noted that engineers have provided examples of times when this did not occur, such as engineers providing unsolicited comments on well-advanced infrastructure projects, giving advice on decisions that had been made long before. Furthermore, we noted that scientists and engineers sometimes make public comments on areas of science outside their professional expertise, thus lessening the credibility of the profession. Some participants also observed that policy-makers had sometimes been âburntâ by scientific advice, making wrong decisions because the advice had been too definitive and the options and risk levels had not been adequately communicated.
In terms of access to knowledge, it was noted that more needs to be done to link experts to governments, but also to parliaments and legislatures. In this regard, the United Kingdom and the United States were referred to as possible examples that Canada could follow.
Finally, it was noted that communication must be two-way, that is to say, that the experts must be able to provide advice to policy-makers, but policy-makers must also encourage experts to contribute their knowledge and expertise to the policy-making process. Thus the policy process can benefit from both the âresearch supplyâ and the âpolicy demandâ sides of the equation.
Without question, the most sensitive issues raised during the round tables concerned the relationship between evidence and politics. How should decision-makers manage the inherent conflicts between them and, when those conflicts occur, which of evidence or politics should prevail?
Most round table participants agreed there was no set formula to answer that question and that it depended a great deal on the expectations of those involved. As one participant put the question, What does government want from science? For instance, innovation is often the desired outcome of science but, for several participants, innovation is mostly industry-driven. Governments are generally supportive of scientists and their research, but these governments often assess scientistsâ value in terms of commercialization and economic gains. This tension becomes all the more real when investments in science do not pay off right away or when money is put into basic research.
Consistent with the âthere-was-no-golden-ageâ thesis mentioned above, most participants also agreed that the challenges we face are not in themselves new. What is new are the opportunities provided by the Internet for individuals to access conflicting scientific evidence and the inability of the media to distinguish areas in which the scientific evidence is genuinely contestable from those in which one view has clearly and overwhelmingly been debunked. As noted above, it was suggested that the professional scientific organizations may have a role in being a clearing house for journalists and citizens looking for âtruth.â The tendency of journalists to provide âbalanced coverageâ by giving both sides equal time regardless of the weight of the scientific evidence supporting one side has reinforced a false sense of relativity in policy debates about science. It was noted that the respected journalistic outlet, the BBC, recently announced that scientific views that had been proven wrong, such as climate change naysayers, would no longer be included in BBC news coverage.
The tightrope that modern governments must walk requires balancing two seemingly irreconcilable goals. On the one hand, governments must promote science as a moving window of knowledge and a process of evaluating and assessing information and evidence. To further this goal, we need to support voices that can help the public navigate uncertainty and accept the risks inherent in it. On the other hand, governments must make clear that not all research results are created equal and that some evidence is more compelling and valuable than the rest. On this front, we need more courage and outspokenness from true experts who can act as credible referees for these public debates. Moreover, with the information overload of the Internet age, presentation and credibility become all the more important: building the communications capability of the scientific community is therefore critical to supporting thoughtful debate.
The relationship between evidence and politics is delicate and complex. The science community must be ready to accept that policy-makers weigh many factors before making decisions. It must also accept that, in most cases, the confidential nature of the advice given by departmental scientists as part of the process that leads to a decision is a key feature of our system of government. On the other hand, the system must better acknowledge the public benefits of providing more information to citizens on the options being considered and better distinguish between sharing information in a technical briefing and advice to the minister.
At all events, participants agreed that the âinformation-providingâ and advisory roles of government scientists are often conflicting and put the government scientist in a difficult position. As an example, it was noted that the primary duty of professional engineers â the safety of the public â could create a conflict for government-employed engineers when the advice on delicate matters (such as the state of disrepair of infrastructure) must remain confidential. But it was also acknowledged that it should be possible to distinguish between providing information to the public and revealing confidential advice â and the system should allow for both. Clearer ârules of engagementâ must be developed to maximize the contribution of the scientist to public debate while not creating conflicts of interest. But the clear consensus is that this can, and indeed should, be done.
Building an environment for public debate that accepts uncertainty as a necessary feature of policy-making is also essential. Scientists need to be open about gaps in knowledge. As one participant observed, the peer review process applied to Galileoâs findings centuries ago would have validated the idea that the world is flat. Accepted assumptions we work from today on the frontiers of science may similarly be wrong. Scientists need to provide policy-makers with advice that clearly describes (as a former US defence secretary famously put it) âthe known knowns, the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns.â
Ultimately, the relationship between evidence and politics must rest on the fact that elected officials must be the ones making the decisions. All policy decisions are based on subjective value judgments, but the role of science and evidence is to aid that by giving accurate assessments of the available evidence, the known facts and the risks involved. The public rightly expects researchers to provide government leaders with their best advice, but also expects the buck to stop with those who were elected to make those decisions.
One of the very first acts of the new government was to restore the long-form census in time for the 2016 census. The decision fulfilled a major campaign commitment to ensure governments had the evidence required to make informed policy decisions and was welcomed with enthusiasm by the policy and scientific communities. It also echoed a significant concern that was expressed throughout the round table process. Indeed, one of the strongest recommendations made at each of the six round tables in the series (all held prior to the start of the federal election campaign) was to reinstate the long-form census immediately.
This campaign theme carried over into the mandate letter issued by the Prime Minister to the Minister of Science following the swearing-in of the new ministry. The letter states, âWe are a governmentâŠthat believes that good scientific knowledge should inform decision-makingâ3 and outlines specific actions the minister must take over the course of the governmentâs mandate, including the following:
Taken together, these commitments clearly signal the importance of science to the government and its intent to incorporate the best available evidence in its policy processes. Thus the statements will have been overwhelmingly supported by round table participants, who were asking for nothing less. The challenge, of course, will be the transition from intent to implementation.
While it would be impossible to list all of the specific recommendations made over the course of the six round tables, six key themes emerged that could serve as a guide to the new government and structure its approach.
Improving the quality of public debate on the policy choices facing government requires that the results of scientific research be more accessible to those engaged in the debate; that government be more transparent about the evidence it is considering and its assessment of it; and that the criteria to reach a decision also be communicated more openly.
To achieve the first condition, many participants argued in favour of creating an âecosystem of debateâ â that is, support the proliferation of credible and highly qualified sources of scientific knowledge. Many made the specific suggestion that these can be modelled on the US national academies, but the important point is that publicly funded organizations be charged with providing expert advice that is available to the public on the challenges facing government.
The latter two conditions require more a change in government behaviour than new structures or processes. Put simply, decision-makers should inform the public about the sources of evidence it is using to come to a decision and should be forthcoming about whether there are particular studies or schools of thought that they find more or less credible than the rest. Moreover, decision-makers should disclose â preferably at the start of a process â what criteria will be used to make the decision.
On a very basic level, it is important for government to take stock of the science and technology expertise available within the public service. In the view of a great many participants, there is a lack of scientists within the decision-making structure, whether as elected officials or bureaucrats.
It was recommended by many that government should review the internal structure within which scientific advice is provided and the moments in the process of decision-making at which that advice can be incorporated. Points of scientific input into the decision-making process should be identified more explicitly and should occur as early on in the evolution of a specific policy file as possible.
As part of this discussion, many participants alluded to the notion of recreating the position of chief science officer for the Government of Canada. Given the complexity of issues that modern governments face and the diffuse nature of decision-making, some reservations were expressed about the âmechanicsâ of this proposal â should it be one person/one office for the entire government or a network of science officers stationed in key ministries answerable to their deputy minister? While most round table groups were agnostic about the specifics, all agreed that embedding such expertise at senior levels of the public service was a critical element of any reform. The word of caution on the specifics of creating one office, however, is worth considering.
Finally, government must improve its systematic review capacity. While some participants acknowledged that the Council of Canadian Academies fulfills part of this mandate, most agreed that it was insufficient to meet the demand. If we are serious about systematic reviews, we need additional infrastructure.
The creation of a National Advisory Board on Science and Technology (NABST) is worthy of consideration. Important for both the substance of the NABSTâs mandate and the symbol is that it is led directly and personally by the Prime Minister.
The primary mandate of the NABST would be to provide advice to the Prime Minister on (1) national science and technology goals and policies; (2) how Canada could expand and strengthen its S&T enterprise; and (3) their application to benefit Canadian society from both sustainable economic growth and quality of life perspectives. The NABST should include about 20 members drawn from industry, government, labour, academia and research. NABST reports and formal advice should be made public.
A priority for the NABST should be to examine the performance of the federal government in the conduct of its core S&T activities â the funding, quality and relevance of the in-house scientific research performed to support the mandates of departments and agencies â and the efficiency of the governance and management mechanisms in place to help establish priorities and measure outcomes.
To address the challenges in the relationship between scientists and public servants, many argued that communications had to be a top priority. Put simply, the two sides of the divide donât speak the same language. To remedy the situation for the long-term, participants agreed that the government should increase its direct engagement of science undergraduates who are interested in policy issues. While respecting provincial jurisdiction, and perhaps through its Canada research chairs, the federal government might encourage the expansion of academic programs in science policy.
It was clear from the feedback received during the round tables that work needed to be done at the parliamentary end of the policy-making process as well. At a minimum, continued engagement between parliamentarians and scientists, such as the Bacon and Eggheads events run by the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering, was deemed vital. But considerable thought was also given to the idea of creating a parliamentary science officer, along the lines of the parliamentary budget officer (PBO) created a few years ago. As with the chief science officer, and especially given the significant problems that have arisen in the implementation of the PBO model, there is a great deal of openness to the way more and better scientific research might be made available to parliamentarians. Whether it is through a single office or through additional funding for the Library of Parliament to better support committees remains an open question. But the notion that parliamentarians should have access to first-rate capability to assess scientific evidence that is independent from the advice the House of Commons or Senate might get from the government was a critically important feature of this discussion.
In addition to the internal structures, more work needs to be put into ensuring that government-based capability connects to the outside world. To this end, the government must enable and encourage government scientists to engage in the broader scientific community, thus improving their ability to perform better science. In particular, and bluntly, remove obstacles to conference attendance.
In addition, it was felt that government should not completely shut out advocacy-based engagement in its research effort. It should at all times be mindful of research biases and lobby efforts, but that should not preclude the engagement of not-for-profit or industry groups. Properly framed, these associations might well prove beneficial.
Science knows no boundaries. The breadth of technological advancement throughout the world is increasing at an accelerating pace. The S&T advances are driving foreign policy agendas throughout the world. Canada needs to incorporate a considerably stronger S&T dimension into its foreign policy objectives and upgrade Global Affairs Canadaâs (GACâs) S&T capabilities and related policies and programs accordingly. In this 21st century, S&T will increasingly become a critical aspect of diplomacy. A cultural change within GAC is required to align competencies, resources and programs with this new reality.
Canadaâs foreign policy needs to adopt a whole-of-society approach to diplomacy, which includes the capabilities and contributions of not only many government agencies but also non-governmental entities that are deeply vested in S&T. Widespread involvement of public and private sector organizations throughout the country should be encouraged to play important diplomatic roles in many areas involving S&T considerations such as Internet governance, the Arctic, climate change, fisheries, clean energy, health issues, global scientific research programs and humanitarian assistance.
To this effect, GAC, in close collaboration with other departments and agencies, should do the following: (1) Carry out S&T-oriented foresight assessments. The foresight program should be mandated to synthesize actionable conclusions of over-the-horizon assessments of S&T capabilities and strategies in different countries and bring them to the attention of appropriate department officials and other stakeholders. (2) Expand diplomatic efforts that capitalize on Canadaâs S&T strengths. (3) Assign scientists or engineers from interested departments, agencies, industry or academia to carry-out short-term assignments.
Making better use of scientific knowledge and technological expertise in the development of public policy is a complex and nuanced endeavour. While scientific research is an essential input into the formulation of sound policy, it is one of several sources of information that must be considered by decision-makers. Thus the distinction between evidence-based and evidence-informed policy-making is a critical one. One hopes that evidence will weigh heavily in the balance, but it will not replace or always trump budget considerations, public opinion, campaign commitments and other considerations. Governments are at their core political entities; the challenge is therefore not to remove politics from decision-making, but rather to create an environment in which it is appropriately informed by science.
Edmonton
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
8:30 a.m. â 2:00 p.m.
Vancouver
Thursday, March 19, 2015
8:30 a.m. â 2:00 p.m.
Halifax
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
8:30 a.m. â 2:00 p.m.
Toronto
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
8:30 a.m. â 2:00 p.m.
Montreal
Le vendredi 12 juin 2015
De 8 h 30 Ă 14 h
Ottawa
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
8:30 a.m. â 2:00 p.m.
Edmonton
Daphne Cheel
Science and Research Branch, Economic Development and Innovation Division, Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education
Graham Fox
Institute for Research on Public Policy
Kevin Goheen
Canadian Academy of Engineering
Denise Hemmings
Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology
Robert Lamb
Canadian Light Source
Pierre Lortie
Dentons Canada LLP
Chris Lumb
TEC Edmonton
Steve MacDonald
Energy and Climate Change, Government of Alberta
Axel Meisen
Canadian Commission for UNESCO
Norbert Morgenstern
Geotechnical Engineering, University of Alberta
John Morin
Western Economic Diversification, Government of Canada
Marcia Nelson
Innovation and Advanced Education, Government of Alberta
Ubaka Ogbogu
Health Law Institute, University of Alberta
Nils Petersen
Faculty of Science, University of Alberta
Andrew Read
Pembina Institute
Indira V. Samarasekera
University of Alberta
Bob Sandford
EPCOR
Jim Saunderson
Western Economic Diversification, Government of Canada
Lori Schmidt
GO Productivity
Warren Singh
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
Lawrence Staples
Construction Owners Association of Alberta
John Stewart
Canadian Nuclear Association
Adam Sweet
Edmonton Economic Development Corporation
David Verveda
Enbridge Pipelines Inc.
Vancouver
Samuel Abraham
BC Cancer Agency
Kevin Butterworth
Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizensâ Services, Government of British Columbia
John Clague
Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC
Karl H. Doetsch
Doetsch International Space Consultants
Hadi Dowlatabadi
Applied Mathematics and Global Change, University of British Columbia
Diane Finegood
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
Graham Fox
Institute for Research on Public Policy
Kevin Goheen
Canadian Academy of Engineering
James Gorman
BC Council of Forest Industries
Jim Hanlon
Advanced Applied Physics Solutions
George Heyman
Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Vancouver-Fairview
Adam Holbrook
Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology, Simon Fraser University
Pierre Lortie
Dentons Canada LLP
James R. McFarlane
International Submarine Engineering Ltd.
Gerard McLean
BIC Inc.
Dinesh K. Pai
Department of Computer Science, University of British Columbia
Ken Putt
Canadian Academy of Engineering
Peter Robinson
David Suzuki Foundation
Stephen M. Rowins
Ministry of Energy and Mines, Government of British Columbia
Martha E. Salcudean
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia
Gerry Salembier
Western Economic Diversification, Government of Canada
Kevin Sauvé
Pembina Institute
David Sanborn Scott
International Association for Hydrogen Energy
Colin Smith
Kitsault Consulting Associates
John Stewart
Canadian Nuclear Association
Kennedy Stewart
NDP Critic for Science and Technology; MP, Burnaby-Douglas
Trevor Stuthridge
FPInnovations
Thomas Tiedje
Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Victoria
Valerie Walker
Mitacs
Joseph D. Wright
Paprican Halifax
Paul Amyotte
Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University
Steven Armstrong
Genome Atlantic
Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia
Digital Nova Scotia
Nikki Beauchamp
Ocean Tracking Network, Dalhousie University
Tim Brownlow
Industry Relations, Atlantic Towing
Tony Charles
School of the Environment, Saint Maryâs University
Patricia A. Charlton
Nova Scotia Environment, Nova Scotia Government
Thomas Duck
Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University
Kevin Dunn
Industry Liaison and Innovation, Dalhousie University
Allan Eddy
Natural Resources, Government of Nova Scotia
Brian Flemming
Former board member, Institute for Research on Public Policy
Graham Fox
Institute for Research on Public Policy
Peter Geddes
Nova Scotia Environment, Nova Scotia Government
Brennan Gillis
Business Development (NS), Mitacs
Kevin Goheen
Canadian Academy of Engineering
Richard Isnor
Research and Graduate Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Stephen Locke
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Pierre Lortie
Dentons Canada LLP
Cora MacLean
Entrepreneursâ Forum
Patricia McNeil
Natural Resources, Government of Nova Scotia
Melanie Nadeau
Science and Technology, Emera
Carole Lee Reinhardt
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)
Amy Ryan
Ocean Tracking Network, Dalhousie University
Steven Smith
Faculty of Science, Saint Maryâs University
Doug Wallace
Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University
Toronto
Paul Acchione
Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (past chair)
William Bawden
University of Toronto
Joseph Berkovitz
Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto
John Bianchini
Hatch Ltd.
Mel Cappe
School of Public Policy and Governance,University of Toronto
Michael Carter
Centre for Healthcare Engineering, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto
Arthur J. Carty
Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo
Graham Fox
Institute for Research on Public Policy
Kevin Goheen
Canadian Academy of Engineering
Robert Haché
York University
Mehrdad Hariri
Canadian Science Policy Centre
Gerald R. Heffernan
G.R. Heffernan & Associates Ltd.
Vaikuntam Iyer Lakshmanan
Process Research ORTECH Inc.
Pierre Lortie
Denton Canada LLP
Hadi Mahabadi
Xerox Research Centre of Canada
Andreas Mandelis
University of Toronto
Peter Mascher
McMaster University
Michael Owen
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
John Preece
British Consulate-General, Toronto
Peggy Sattler
New Democratic Party
John Stewart
Canadian Nuclear Association
David S. Wilkinson
Materials Science and Engineering, McMaster University
Jean Zu
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto
Montreal
Jean BĂ©langer
OPAL-RT Technologies Inc.
Jean Belzile
Department of Electrical Engineering, Ăcole de technologie supĂ©rieure
Richard Boudreault
Technologies AĂ©rospatiales Boudreault Inc.
Philippe Bourke
Regroupement national des conseils rĂ©gionaux de lâenvironnement
Sylvain G. Cloutier
Canada Research Chair in Hybrid Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ăcole de technologie supĂ©rieure
Danielle Fleury
Direction de la recherche et de lâenvironnement, Transports QuĂ©bec
Graham Fox
Institute for Research on Public Policy
Ădouard Gervais
The Canadian Academy of Engineering
Jacques Lamarre
Jacques Lamarre Management Inc.
Pierre Lortie
Dentons Canada LLP
Karel Mayrand
David Suzuki Foundation
Ăric Montpetit
Department of Political Science, Université de Montréal
Hany Moustapha
aéroéts; Pratt & Whitney Canada
Roger Nicolet
Nicolet, Chartrand, Knoll Ltée
Mario Rivero-Huguet
Consulate General of the United Kingdom in Montreal
Jean Simard
Aluminium Association of Canada
John Stewart
Canadian Nuclear Association
Ashok Vijh
Institut de recherche dâHydro-QuĂ©bec
Ottawa
Richard Barnabé
Statistics Canada (retired)
Peter Bleyer
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Neil Bouwer
Science and Policy Integration, Natural Resources Canada
John Buschek
Technology, Society, Environment Studies, Carleton University
Frank Des Rosiers
Innovation and Energy Technology Sector, Natural Resources Canada
Graham Fox
Institute for Research on Public Policy
Dan Gardner
Policy Options, Institute for Research on Public Policy
Katie Gibbs
Evidence for Democracy
Kevin Goheen
Canadian Academy of Engineering
Ted Hewitt
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Jeffrey Kinder
Federal Science and Technology Secretariat
Deirdre Laframboise
Canadian Climate Forum
John Leggat
Jayden Defence & Security Inc.
Pierre Lortie
Dentons Canada LLP
Alexandra Mallett
School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University
Prakash Patnaik
NRC Aerospace, Government of Canada
Marc Saner
Institute for Science, Society and Policy
John Stewart
Canadian Nuclear Association
Stephen Tapp
Institute for Research on Public Policy
Sean Webster
Enbridge Pipelines Inc.
8:00 â 8:30 a.m.
Continental breakfast buffet
8:30 â 8:45 a.m.
Welcome and opening remarks
8:45 â 9:30 a.m.
Session 1 â Understanding the role of scientific evidence and technology in policy-making
9:30 â 10:15 a.m.
Session 2 â Using scientific and technological expertise
10:15 â 10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30 â 11:15 a.m.
Session 3 â Governance and political challenges
11:15 â 11:30 a.m.
Session 4 â Advice to governments
12:00 â 1:50 p.m.
Luncheon
Montreal â As governments struggle to keep pace with rapid advancements in science and technology, a new report by the Institute for Research on Public Policy and the Canadian Academy of Engineering outlines how governments can better incorporate that knowledge in policy-making processes and improve the quality of government decisions.
The report is based on a series of round tables held in 2015 in six cities across Canada that brought together senior officials, engineers, scientists and stakeholders for a frank exchange on how governments could improve their use of scientific research and technological expertise in the development of public policy.
âAs governments grapple with evermore complex policy problems, science and technology must play a bigger role in providing an evidence base for decisions and supporting government efforts to manage risk and uncertainty,â says Pierre Lortie, president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. “At a time when the federal government has sent a clear signal that it intends to examine these issues seriously, we hope this report will help support the new Minister of Science’s efforts to achieve the goals sets out in her mandate letter. But while many of the recommendations target the federal government specifically, we strongly urge all governments to consider how the report can guide their efforts as well.”
Specifically, the report calls on the federal government to:
The report also calls on decision-makers to acknowledge that a careful balance must be struck between scientific evidence and other considerations. âOf course, evidence should weigh heavily in the balance, but it will not necessarily replace or trump budget considerations, citizensâ concerns, campaign commitments and other considerations. The challenge is not to remove politics from decision-making, but rather to create an enÂvironment in which the public debate is appropriately informed by science,â concludes Graham Fox, president of the Institute for Research on Public Policy.
The report, Making Better Use of Science and Technology in Policy-Making, can be downloaded from the Instituteâs website (irpp.org). Together with this release, Policy Options magazine is highlighting a special feature entitled âScience, Technology and Public Policyâ (available at policyoptions.irpp.org).
-30-
The Institute for Research on Public Policy is an independent, national, bilingual, not-for-profit organization based in Montreal. To receive updates from the IRPP, please subscribe to our e-mail list.
The Canadian Academy of Engineering is an independent, self-governing and non-profit organization established in 1987 to serve the nation in matters of engineering concern.
Media contact:   Shirley Cardenas   tel. 514-594-6877   scardenas@nullirpp.org
