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Erratic funding for basic research, coupled with concerns that science has fallen down the priority list for politicians, has contributed to a shift in researchers' attitudes to lobbying. Erratic funding for basic research, coupled with concerns that science has fallen down the priority list for politicians, has contributed to a shift in researchers' attitudes to lobbying., Author(s): Brian Owens Author Affiliations: Demonstrators at a March for Science rally in Ottawa, Canada. [see PDF for image] Credit: David Kawai/Bloomberg/Getty Photo of demonstrators during the March for Science [...]

The buzz created by a 2017 national science review has faded, prompting calls for a renewed focus on innovation. The buzz created by a 2017 national science review has faded, prompting calls for a renewed focus on innovation., Author(s): Brian Owens Author Affiliations: Canada's researchers call for a return to stated science ambitions Monitoring activities in Ontario's IISD Experimental Lakes Area, an exceptional natural laboratory of 58 small [...]

ARTICLE COUNT (AC): 29,325 FRACTIONAL COUNT (FC): 22,276 WEIGHTED FRACTIONAL COUNT (WFC): 20,126 North America is strides ahead of all other regions, including its nearest rival North and Western Europe, [...]

This paper examines whether national differences in political culture add an explanatory dimension to the formulation of policy in the area of biotechnology, especially with respect to genetically modified food. The analysis links the formulation of protective regulatory policies governing genetically modified food to both country and region-specific differences in uncertainty tolerance levels and risk perceptions in the United States, Canada, and European Union. Based on polling data and document analysis, the findings illustrate that these differences matter. Following a mostly opportunistic risk perception within an environment of high tolerance for uncertainty, policymakers in the United States and Canada modified existing regulatory frameworks that govern genetically modified food in their respective countries. In contrast, the mostly cautious perception of new food technologies and low tolerance for uncertainty among European Union member states has contributed to the creation of elaborate and stringent regulatory policies governing genetically modified food. Key words: Biotechnology policy, genetically modified food, genetic engineering in agriculture, political culture, risk perceptions doi:10.2990/29_2_17

Lithoprobe is Canada's national, collaborative, multidisciplinary, Earth science research project established to develop a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of northern North America. It is regarded internationally as one of the most successful national geoscience projects ever undertaken. Part of Lithoprobe's success derives from its history and organizational structure. A one-year Phase I program (1984-1985) was highly successful. Phases II to V carried the project forward until 2005, when funding terminated. Lithoprobe was organized as a decentralized research network of multidisciplinary scientific studies and collaborating scientists. About 1500 scientific publications were generated. Lithoprobe's legacy also includes economic and social benefits. New and improved understanding of Earth history provides petroleum and mining companies with an enhanced knowledge base. Lithoprobe demonstrated the applicability of high-resolution seismic reflection studies to mineral exploration. Development of a portable seismic refraction recorder and a long-period magnetotelluric system led to technology transfer to Canadian companies. Very high-resolution seismic reflection studies, applied first by Lithoprobe, are proving effective for exploration for uranium deposits in Saskatchewan. In the cratonic areas of Canada, Lithoprobe seismic and magnetotelluric studies have provided significant new information relevant to exploration for diamonds. On the west coast of Canada, Lithoprobe studies provided data and a framework for better understanding the mega-thrust earthquake hazard in the region. Lithoprobe established a highly effective public outreach strategy that involved the print and electronic media as well as material for educational purposes. Unequivocally, Lithoprobe has enhanced the already strong reputation of the Earth sciences in Canada. Lithoprobe est le projet national multidisciplinaire canadien de recherche en sciences de la Terre; il est effectue en collaboration et il a etabli afin de developper une comprehension approfondie de revolution de l'Amerique du Nord. D'un point de vue international, il est considere etre l'un des projets nationaux geoscientifiques les plus reussis jamais entrepris. Une partie du succes de Lithoprobe decoule de son histoire et de sa structure organisationnelle. Un programme de Phase I, d'une duree d'un an (1984-1985), a ete tresreussi. Les Phases II a V ont fait progresser le projet jusqu'en 2005 alors que le financement a ete terminee. Lithoprobe etait organise en tant qu'un reseau decentralise; d'etudes scientifiques multidisciplinaires et de scientifiques qui collaborent ensemble. Environ 1500 publications scientifiques ont ete geenereees. Le legs de Lithoprobe comprend aussi des benefices economiques et sociaux. Une meilleure, et souvent nouvelle, comprehension de l'historique de la Terre fournit aux compagnies minieres et petrolieres une base de connaissances elargie. Lithoprobe a demontre l'applicabilite d'etudes sismiques reflexion haute resolution a l'exploration mineerale. Le developpement d'un enregistreur sismique refraction portable et d'un systeme magnetotellurique longue peeriode a mene a un transfert de technologie vers les compagnies canadiennes. Des etudes de sismique reflexion a tres haute resolution, tout d'abord effectives par Lithoprobe, s'averent effectives dans la recherche de gisements d'uranium en Saskatchewan. Dans les regions cratoniques du Canada, les etudes sismiques et magnetotelluriques Lithoprobe ont fournit de nouvelles donnees pertinentes a l'exploration pour les diamants. Sur la cote Ouest du Canada, les etudes Lithoprobe ont fournit des donnees et un cadre de reference pour une meilleure comprehension des risques de tremblement de terre a grand chevauchement dans la region. Lithoprobe a etabli une strategie d'ouverture au public hautement effective qui impliquait la presse ecrite et les medias electroniques ainsi que du materiel pour fins educatives. Sans aucun doute, Lithoprobe a rehaussee la reputation deja forte du Canada en sciences de la Terre. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Lithoprobe was Canada's national, collaborative, multidisciplinary, Earth science research project established to develop a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of the northern half of North America. Canada's landmass and [...]

The theory that science, technology and innovation (STI) policies in Canada are regionalized due to its networked system is studied. The design of federal countries was observed to entail difficulties in formulating STI policies. The forming of networks as a result of STI policies in Canada, and as an important aspect of regional development and of industrial cluster promotion, is examined.

A new approach in science policy making named the innovation system (IS) approach has been developed during the past three decades. Its primary goal is to better understand the processes through which scientific knowledge is produced and transferred to businesses to improve their competitiveness and develop national and/or regional economies. This approach has been adopted as an analytical framework and guideline for science policy making by numerous public sector organizations around the world. Using a case study of the Canadian and Quebec public sectors, our research seeks to understand why the IS approach has gained the adherence of government employees and how it has been disseminated from international organizations down to regional civil servants. Findings show that adherence to the IS approach stems from the prestige of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and its associated epistemic community, and from the cultural authority science exerts on government employees; these two factors bestow cultural authority onto the IS approach. The perceived scientific validity of the IS approach also leads government employees to consider its underlying economistic worldview as an unquestionable reality. Keywords: innovation systems; science policy; epistemic community; culture; symbolic power

A policy networks explain the difference that Canada has a more restrictive biotechnology policy than the United States. American networks have promoted beliefs favorable to more permissive regulatory preferences than the Canadian environmental and health risk assessment networks and American biotechnology policies are therefore even more permissive than those of Canada.

The introduction of numerical-control processing and increased computerization in the mid 1950s - 'automation' - was met with widespread fear that 'thinking machines' were about to cause massive unemployment. While hardly the first time in history that people viewed machines as threats, this particular technological controversy was characterized by a ubiquitous belief in the reality and necessity of unbridled progress. The underlying laissez-innover mentality meant that even those most likely to be critical of the effects of technological change such as organized labour accepted its 'inevitability.' The crux of the controversy was that while the word automation fell into disuse by the late 1960s, the central question is generated - namely how to maintain economic security in the face of rapid technological change - has remained central to recent public policy debates on 'economic restructuring' and 'globalization.' As such, the automation controversy has never really ended, although the word itself no longer leads to media commentary.

Author(s): Lesley Evans Ogden [1] Early one Thursday morning last November, Kristi Miller-Saunders was surprised to receive a visit from her manager. Miller-Saunders, a molecular geneticist at the Canadian fisheries [...]

The Canadian government has initiated a strategy for promoting science and technology based on national goals. It supports research and development efforts through job creation, economic growth and improvements in quality of life. The strategy also advocates innovation involving the participation of multiple stakeholders and public consultants. Moreover, the country's public policy aims to advance international competitiveness by building its information technology resources.

Recent well-publicized developments in genetic and reproductive technologies, such as the transfer of eggs or embryos from one woman to another, have caused much discussion among feminists. Despite this interest, [...]

Understanding the proper role of government in the promotion of small technology-oriented firms is a priority given the potential benefits to society as a whole and the inability of traditional market mechanisms to adequately nurture such firms. Further, designing the appropriate public policies to sufficiently satisfy the involved stakeholders has typically proven to be an elusive pursuit. With these issues in mind, this paper applies the concept of agency theory to evaluate government programs seeking to promote technology start-ups. A new program associated with the Innovation Ontario Corporation, which utilizes equity joint ventures between government and small technology-oriented firms, is described and evaluated using the agency perspective. Suggestions are made for further inquiry and analysis. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Canada's position regarding nuclear nonproliferation is paradoxical since it supports the nonproliferation treaty but is aggressively trying to sell its nuclear reactors internationally. The Chretien administration's Team Canada II trade mission to South America sought to find new contracts for the country's Candu reactor technology.

This article begins with the observation that the recently established Canadian Space Agency possesses very few of the organizational attributes that its early promoters had envisioned. The agency is much less autonomous, for example, and is located much further from the industry than was originally expected. We describe three rather distinct perspectives on organizational change and argue that each one has a contribution to make in understanding the evolution of the Canadian Space Agency away from its initial conception. As backdrop to this theoretical argument we outline the structure of the space industry, the various initiatives undertaken to guide industry development, and the circumstances surrounding the creation of the space agency. In the final section of the article, drawing on interviews with public officials and private actors, we show how, in creating the space agency, bureaucrats, politicians and industry representatives were unable to surmount several key obstacles previewed in the introductory section. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Direct Broadcast Satellites, in their most sophisticated form, have yet to see widespread application. However, since the 1960s this arrangement of communications technology has been the focus of an international debate over the distribution of power vis-a-vis the transmission of information. The Canadian approach to DBS suggests a dichotomy. 'Developed' but culturally vulnerable, Canada seems intent on maximizing the technological edge abroad while attempting to control the domestic information flow. Examining various international communications contexts provides a perspective for considering a Canadian policy which attempts to straddle cultural protectionism and capital accumulation - implicitly questioning the legitimacy of a monolithic view of post-industrial 'media imperialism.'

Canada's government will boost funding for science and technology, finance minister Bill Morneau announced on 22 March. Science-granting agencies will receive an extra Can$76 million (US$58 million) annually from the [...]