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On behalf of the 57,000 members of the
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada,
I am pleased to welcome you to the 2nd Science Policy Symposium, Public
Science in Canada: Strengthening Science and Policy to
Protect Canadians.
In the 21st century, no endeavour will
be more vital to addressing the common challenges confronting
Canadians, and indeed humankind, than the scientific
pursuit of knowledge and innovation. In this respect,
science will truly be public science; to an unparalleled
extent, the public interest will come to depend on the
scientific effort to surmount mutual problems now global
in scope and complexity.
To remain at the forefront of this shared
enterprise, Canada must find ways of strengthening not
just the foundations of scientific research, but the
institutional conduits through which the scientific effort
serves robust public policy. With this in mind, Canadians
have embarked on an important conversation of how best
to nourish and harness scientific research, while nudging
Canada closer to the frontiers of innovation. We are
rightfully proud that the Professional Institute has
taken the lead in initiating this discussion
In September 2007, I was pleased and honored
to chair our first Science Policy Symposium, Public
Science in Canada: Strengthening Science to Protect Canadians,
where government, industry and academic scientists, researchers
and science policy analysts from across Canada and around
the world gathered to discuss the current state of science
policy and best practices in science-policy governance.
Bench scientists heard the perspective of policy makers,
and policy makers gained insight into the everyday circumstances
and practical challenges facing scientists at work. We
are equally proud that these initial efforts have subsequently
found amplification in the media and in the public sphere;
many other voices have joined the discussion, most recently
with the convening of the October 2009 Canadian Science
Policy Conference (CSPC) held in Toronto.
I am pleased that the 2nd Science Policy
Symposium, May 12-14th 2010 in Gatineau, Quebec, will
now raise the discussion to the next level. We believe
that a dialogue among university and government scientists,
science communicators, policy makers and industry players
continues to be urgently needed in order to foster understanding
and advance practical solutions.
This, our second Symposium, has once again
assembled an exciting programme featuring influential
keynote speakers and leading thinkers and practitioners
from the science community. We anticipate a rich discussion,
and invite you to participate in this important event.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Symposium in
May.
Sincerely yours,
Gary Corbett
President
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada |
