As always these days, the in person portion of the conference is in Ottawa and, if you’re looking for the supersaver discount, you’d best rush to register for the Nov. 16 – 18, 2022 Canadian Science Policy Conference before September 3rd [2022], 11:59PM EST. Here are a few details from the Registration page,
Registration includes 3 Lunches, 3 breakfasts, refreshment breaks, and one reception, and zoom pre-conference sessions.
Gala Dinner is included in the Standard registration category. Gala dinner for students and non-profit pricing is $99
| Registration Label Name | SuperSaver Rate All summer – Sept 3rd | Early Bird Rate Sept. 4th – Oct 1st | Regular Rate From Oct 5th |
| Standard (Gala dinner included) | $990 | $1100 | $1250 |
| Academic / Non-Profit / Retired / Diplomat | $550 | $650 | $750 |
| Student / Postdoctoral Fellow / Trainee | $200 | $250 | $300 |
I’m not sure why there’s a gap (Oct. 2 – 4, 2022) between the dates for the Early Bird Rage and the Regular Rate but I assume that will be addressed at some point.
The programme doesn’t seem all that exciting (YMMV). So, I’ve done the best I can with the choices at hand, here’s the description for one of the pre-conference Zoom sessions followed by a conference session description,
Panel Organized by: Guelph University
If the current pandemic has taught us anything, we need to find a way to avoid, or, at minimum, mitigate the effects of disease and environmental emergencies, including future pandemics propagated in human and animal populations. A One Health approach, which focuses on the perfect storm of health challenges at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health, must be at the centre of preparedness; these events have the potential to cause massive suffering, disrupt food systems, derail our economies, and lead to huge inequities and political unrest. Although this call to action may seem daunting, there are many examples of successful One Health initiatives and policy approaches around the globe. This panel will consider One Health’s success stories and how they chart a course for putting a strategy in place to prepare us best for future national and global health threats. Our panellists will present their stories of how they initiated positive change utilizing a One Health approach and the important lessons they have learned.
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901: Machine M.D.: AI for our Future Health
Panel Organized by: University of Ottawa
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform healthcare, addressing long-standing problems of safety, quality and access. Yet, AI itself also raises concerns relating, for instance, to algorithmic bias, apportionment of liability, safety, privacy and informed consent. Are our existing legal structures, across Canada, sufficient to meet these 21st century challenges? Our panel will discuss their research program of work shopping case studies with a multidisciplinary group (legal, clinical, computer science, engineering, ethics) of a range of health-related AI across healthcare settings. In doing so they will illuminate the heterogeneity of challenges AI presents and the needs we have for adroit law reform [emphasis mine].
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It’s nice to see that lawyers care about our health.
Organizers have spiced things up a bit with two performances (November 15 and November 16, 2022) of a play,
Special Performance: The Anniversary, A Play” (RSVP required)
Panel Organized by: CSPC [Canadian Science Policy Centre/Conference], ISSP [Institute for Science, Society and Policy], Faculty of Art University of Ottawa
RSVP requiredThe Anniversary: A play
Ottawa lawyer Evelyn Carlyle married the perfect man and created her ideal family. But when her three adult children return home to celebrate their parents’ 30th anniversary, her creation starts to look like a failed lab experiment.
Choice, identity and the nature of connection collide in a gripping exploration of the intimate role of science and technology in our lives. How does technology shape our deepest familial relationships in ways we don’t even recognize?
An alt-present family drama that gets at the ancient roots of what it is to be human, or not.
A special arts-science collaboration from the Institute for Science, Society and Policy, University of Ottawa.
As for sustainability, there’s this session amongst others,
Panel Organized by: Future Earth/Sustainability in the Digital Age
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) could help Canada meet 2030 carbon reduction commitments while protecting biodiversity and providing multiple ecosystem services that improve the well-being of humanity; but their long-term impacts are still poorly understood and they don’t engage all stakeholders for an equitable and effective approach forward. The panel’s objective is to discuss preliminary Canadian NbS trends and data needs. We also assess the co-creation of NbS, centering these solutions around Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. This panel also explores recent gatherings towards strengthening Indigenous Carbon Rights as a crucial pillar of NbS success in Canada and globally.
Here’s one last tidbit from the conference programme,
Panel Organized by: Visions of Science Network for Learning
In our current crises of vaccine hesitancy, the digital divide, health inequities, misinformation, and climate change denial, we have seen the dire consequences of approaching STEM separately from society, equity, and community. This session brings together community-focused science experts who have played pivotal roles working with marginalized communities in the context of the pandemic and digital shift. Panelists will share their insights and calls to action to break down the elitism in science, embed humility and curiosity about diverse expertise and lived experiences, and foster inclusion, integrity, and accountability to communities to restore trust in science institutions.
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The conference website can be found here and the Visions of Science Network for Learning website is here.