Tag Archives: Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA)

Science Meets [Canadian] Parliament (SMP) 2025

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This September 19, 2024 announcement (received via email) from the Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) features an application deadline for the 2025 Science Meets Parliament (SMP) initiative and information about two upcoming provincial editions,

CSPC is excited to announce that applications for Science Meets Parliament (SMP) 2025 are now open! 
 
This year, CSPC is thrilled to expand the program with the inaugural launch of Science Meets Parliament in Ontario, along with the continued success of the Federal and British Columbia programs.
 
Science Meets Parliament is a transformative program designed to foster stronger connections between the science and policy communities. The program provides unique opportunities for Early Career Researchers to engage with policymakers, gain a deeper understanding of the policymaking process, and contribute to evidence-informed decisions.
 
This year’s deadline to apply for the SMP programs is November 8, 2024!

SMP Federal
Interested in connecting with federal policymakers and experiencing the heartbeat of national decision-making? SMP Federal is a joint program with the Office of Chief Science Advisor and is a platform for researchers to learn about policymaking at the Federal Parliament and interact with Members of Parliament. 
 
Click here to find out more information and to apply for SMP Federal.

SMP Ontario – New!
We are excited to introduce the first-ever Science Meets Parliament Ontario! This new program offers Ontario-based researchers the opportunity to connect with provincial policymakers and learn about policymaking at the provincial level.
 
Click here to find out more information and to apply for SMP Ontario.

SMP British Columbia
SMP BC continues to provide opportunities to meet with provincial policymakers, build relationships, and learn about policymaking at the provincial level.

Click here to find out more information and to apply for SMP BC.

….

There’s also the French language version,

Le CPSC est heureux d’annoncer que les candidatures pour l’édition 2025 du programme la SRP sont présentement acceptées!
 
Cette année, le CSPC est ravi d’élargir la portée du programme avec le lancement du programme La science rencontre le Parlement – Ontario qui vient s’ajouter aux programmes fédéral et de la Colombie-Britannique. 
 
Le programme la SRP est une initiative novatrice visant à renforcer les liens entre les communautés scientifique et politique. Il offre aux chercheurs en début de carrière une opportunité exceptionnelle d’interagir avec des décideurs politiques, de mieux comprendre le processus d’élaboration des politiques et de contribuer à une prise de décisions éclairées, fondées sur des données probantes. 
 
La date limite pour soumettre votre candidature pour l’un des programmes la SRC est le 8 novembre 2024!

La SRP – programme fédéral
Vous souhaitez entrer en contact avec les décideurs politiques fédéraux et découvrir le rythme cardiaque de la prise de décision nationale ? SRP Federal est un programme conjoint avec le Bureau du conseiller scientifique en chef et constitue une plate-forme 
permettant aux chercheurs de se renseigner sur l’élaboration des politiques au Parlement fédéral et d’interagir avec les députés.
 
Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus et soumettre votre candidature au programme fédéral la SRP.

La SRP – Ontario Nouveauté!
Nous sommes ravis de vous présenter le tout premier programme La science rencontre le Parlement de l’Ontario ! Ce nouveau programme offre aux chercheurs basés en Ontario l’occasion d’entrer en contact avec les décideurs politiques provinciaux et d’en apprendre davantage sur l’élaboration des politiques au niveau provincial
 
Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus et soumettre votre candidature pour le programme La SRP- Ontario.

La SRP – Colombie-Britannique 
SRP BC continue d’offrir des occasions de rencontrer des décideurs politiques provinciaux, d’établir des relations et d’en apprendre davantage sur l’élaboration de politiques au niveau provincial.

Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus et soumettre votre candidature pour le programme La SRP- Colombie-Britannique.

…

Here’s a little more about the federal SMP programme, from the Science Meets Parliament webpage on the CSPC website,

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) are pleased to announce the fifth edition of the Science Meets Parliament Program. The applications are now being accepted for the program and the program is scheduled to take place in Ottawa in spring (late April/early May) 2025 [emphasis mine], with the in-person event taking place over two days (Monday-Tuesday), subject to Parliament being in session. In the event of an election, the timing of the program may be delayed.

CSPC and OCSA are pleased to present the 2025 edition of Science Meets Parliament (SMP) to continue to strengthen the connection between the science and policy communities. This program provides an excellent opportunity for researchers to learn about the inclusion of scientific evidence in policymaking in Parliament.

This year marks the fifth Science Meets Parliament program since its inauguration in 2018. During these events, more than 150 emerging leaders of the scientific community from across Canada were brought to the Canadian Parliament for extensive meetings with Parliamentarians, and attendance at the House and Senate standing committees. Scientists were able to learn first-hand about Parliamentary work, and the role of science in policymaking, and discuss their research with Parliamentarians.

Apply Now

The application deadline is November 8th, 2024.

…

From the Science Meets Parliament Ontario 2025 webpage, Note: I couldn’t find a deadline for applications,

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is pleased to announce the inaugural edition of the Science Meets Parliament Program in Ontario with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Honourable Ted Arnott. The applications are now being accepted for the program and the program is scheduled to take place in Toronto in spring (mid/late March) 2025 [emphasis mine], with the in-person event taking place over two days (Monday-Tuesday), subject to Parliament being in session. In the event of an election, the timing of the program may be delayed.

Apply Now

From the Science Meets Parliament BC 2025 webpage, Note: I couldn’t find a deadline for applications,

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is pleased to announce the second edition of the Science Meets Parliament Program in BC with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The applications are now being accepted for the program and the program is scheduled to take place in Victoria in spring (mid/late April) 2025 [emphasis mine], with the in-person event taking place over two days (Monday-Tuesday), subject to Parliament being in session. In the event of an election, the timing of the program may be delayed.

Apply Now

From La science rencontre le Parlement webpage,

Le Centre canadien des politiques scientifiques (CCPS) et le Bureau de la conseillère scientifique en chef (BCSC) sont heureux d’annoncer la cinquième édition du programme La science au service du Parlement. Les demandes sont maintenant acceptées et le programme devrait se dérouler à Ottawa au printemps (fin avril/début mai) 2025, l’événement en personne se déroulant sur deux jours (du lundi au mardi), sous réserve que le Parlement soit en session. En cas d’élection, le calendrier du programme pourrait être retardé.

Le CSPC et l’OCSA sont heureux de présenter l’édition 2025 de Science Meets Parliament (SMP) afin de continuer à renforcer les liens entre les communautés scientifiques et politiques. Ce programme offre une excellente occasion aux chercheurs d’en apprendre davantage sur l’inclusion des preuves scientifiques dans l’élaboration des politiques au Parlement.

Cette année marque la cinquième édition du programme La science à la rencontre du Parlement depuis son inauguration en 2018. Au cours de ces événements, plus de 150 leaders émergents de la communauté scientifique de partout au Canada ont été invités au Parlement canadien pour des réunions approfondies avec des parlementaires et pour assister aux travaux des comités permanents de la Chambre et du Sénat. Les scientifiques ont pu en apprendre davantage sur le travail parlementaire et le rôle de la science dans l’élaboration des politiques, et discuter de leurs recherches avec les parlementaires.

Postulez Maintenant

La date limite de candidature est Novembre 8th, 2024.

…

From La science rencontre le Parlement de l’Ontario 2025 webpage, no dealine mentioned,

Le Centre canadien sur les politiques scientifiques (CCPS) est heureux d’annoncer la première édition du programme La science au service du Parlement en Ontario, avec le président de l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario, l’honorable Ted Arnott. Les candidatures sont maintenant acceptées et le programme devrait avoir lieu à Toronto au printemps (mi-/fin mars) 2025, l’événement en personne se déroulant sur deux jours (du lundi au mardi), sous réserve que le Parlement soit en session. En cas d’élection, le calendrier du programme pourrait être retardé.

Postulez Maintenant

From La science rencontre le Parlement BC 2025 webpage, no deadline mentioned,

Le Centre canadien sur les politiques scientifiques (CCPS) est heureux d’annoncer la deuxième édition du programme « La science rencontre le Parlement » en Colombie-Britannique avec le président de l’Assemblée législative de la Colombie-Britannique. Les candidatures sont maintenant acceptées et le programme devrait avoir lieu à Victoria au printemps (mi-/fin avril) 2025, l’événement en personne se déroulant sur deux jours (du lundi au mardi), sous réserve que le Parlement soit en session. En cas d’élection, le calendrier du programme pourrait être retardé.

Postulez Maintenant

Good luck!

Register for Science Meets (Canadian) Parliament by October 11, 2023—Virtual information session on September 19, 2023

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A September 14, 2023 announcement (received via email) from the Canadian Science Policy Centre includes an invitation to sign up for the 2024 edition of their Science Meets Parliament (SMP) programme, here’s more about the programme from the announcement,

Science Meets Parliament (SMP) is a program that works to strengthen the connections between the science and policy communities. This program is open to Tier II Canada Research Chairs, Indigenous Principal Investigators, and Banting Postdoctoral Fellows. …

This seems a little underwhelming as a description; thankfully, there’s a little more on the Canadian Science Policy Centre’s SMP webpage,

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) are pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2024 edition of Science Meets Parliament!

This program is scheduled to take place in Ottawa on May 6th and 7th 2024, subject to Parliament being in session and in person.

…

The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the connections between Canada’s scientific and political communities, enable a two-way dialogue, and promote mutual understanding. This initiative aims to help scientists become familiar with policy making at the political level, and for parliamentarians to explore using scientific evidence in policy making. This initiative is not meant to be an advocacy exercise, and will not include any discussion of science funding or other forms of advocacy.

The Science Meets Parliament model is adapted from the successful Australian program held annually since 1999. Similar initiatives exist in the EU, the UK and Spain.

CSPC’s program aims to benefit the parliamentarians, the scientific community and, indirectly, the Canadian public.

For anyone who likes to ‘kick the tires before buying’, there’s an information session (from the announcement),

A virtual information session will be held for all interested parties on September 19th [2023], from 11:30-12:30 pm ET [8:30 – 9:30 am PT]. To register for the SMP 2024 Virtual Information Session, click here. 

Finally (from the announcement),

The deadline to apply for this program is October 11, 2023. To apply, click here.

Good luck!

Virtual panel discussion: Canadian Strategies for Responsible Neurotechnology Innovation on May 16, 2023

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The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) sent a May 11, 2023 notice (via email) about an upcoming event but first, congratulations (Bravo!) are in order,

The Science Meets Parliament [SMP] Program 2023 is now complete and was a huge success. 43 Delegates from across Canada met with 62 Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum on the Hill on May 1-2, 2023.

The SMP Program is championed by CSPC and Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr. Mona Nemer [through the Office of the Chief Science Advisor {OCSA}].

This Program would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors: The Royal Military College of Canada, The Stem Cell Network, and the University of British Columbia.

There are 443 seats in Canada’s Parliament with 338 in the House of Commons and 105 in the Senate and 2023 is the third time the SMP programme has been offered. (It was previously held in 2018 and 2022 according to the SMP program page.)

The Canadian programme is relatively new compared to Australia where they’ve had a Science Meets Parliament programme since 1999 (according to a March 20, 2017 essay by Ken Baldwin, Director of Energy Change Institute at Australian National University for The Conversation). The Scottish have had a Science and the Parliament programme since 2000 (according to this 2022 event notice on the Royal Society of Chemistry’s website).

By comparison to the other two, the Canadian programme is a toddler. (We tend not to recognize walking for the major achievement it is.) So, bravo to the CSPC and OCSA on getting 62 Parliamentarians to make time in their schedules to meet a scientist.

Responsible neurotechnology innovation?

From the Canadian Strategies for Responsible Neurotechnology Innovation event page on the CSPC website,

Advances in neurotechnology are redefining the possibilities of improving neurologic health and mental wellbeing, but related ethical, legal, and societal concerns such as privacy of brain data, manipulation of personal autonomy and agency, and non-medical and dual uses are increasingly pressing concerns [emphasis mine]. In this regard, neurotechnology presents challenges not only to Canada’s federal and provincial health care systems, but to existing laws and regulations that govern responsible innovation. In December 2019, just before the pandemic, the OECD [Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development] Council adopted a Recommendation on Responsible Innovation in Neurotechnology. It is now urging that member states develop right-fit implementation strategies.

What should these strategies look like for Canada? We will propose and discuss opportunities that balance and leverage different professional and governance approaches towards the goal of achieving responsible innovation for the current state of the art, science, engineering, and policy, and in anticipation of the rapid and vast capabilities expected for neurotechnology in the future by and for this country.

Link to the full OECD Recommendation on Responsible Innovation in Neurotechnology

Date: May 16 [2023]

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EDT

Event Category: Virtual Session [on Zoom]

Registration Page: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-g8d1qubRhumPSCQi6WUtA

The panelists are:

Dr. Graeme Moffat
Neurotechnology entrepreneur & Senior Fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy [University of Toronto]

Dr. Graeme Moffat is a co-founder and scientist with System2 Neurotechnology. He previously was Chief Scientist and VP of Regulatory Affairs at Interaxon, Chief Scientist with ScienceScape (later Chan-Zuckerberg Meta), and a research engineer at Neurelec (a division of Oticon Medical). He served as Managing Editor of Frontiers in Neuroscience, the largest open access scholarly journal series in the field of neuroscience. Dr. Moffat is a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and an advisor to the OECD’s neurotechnology policy initiative.

Professor Jennifer Chandler
Professor of Law at the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, University of Ottawa

Jennifer Chandler is Professor of Law at the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, University of Ottawa. She leads the “Neuroethics Law and Society” Research Pillar for the Brain Mind Research Institute and sits on its Scientific Advisory Council. Her research focuses on the ethical, legal and policy issues in brain sciences and the law. She teaches mental health law and neuroethics, tort law, and medico-legal issues. She is a member of the advisory board for CIHR’s Institute for Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (IMNA) and serves on international editorial boards in the field of law, ethics and neuroscience, including Neuroethics, the Springer Book Series Advances in Neuroethics, and the Palgrave-MacMillan Book Series Law, Neuroscience and Human Behavior. She has published widely in legal, bioethical and health sciences journals and is the co-editor of the book Law and Mind: Mental Health Law and Policy in Canada (2016). Dr. Chandler brings a unique perspective to this panel as her research focuses on the ethical, legal and policy issues at the intersection of the brain sciences and the law. She is active in Canadian neuroscience research funding policy, and regularly contributes to Canadian governmental policy on contentious matters of biomedicine.

Ian Burkhart
Neurotech Advocate and Founder of BCI [brain-computer interface] Pioneers Coalition

Ian is a C5 tetraplegic [also known as quadriplegic] from a diving accident in 2010. He participated in a ground-breaking clinical trial using a brain-computer interface to control muscle stimulation. He is the founder of the BCI Pioneers Coalition, which works to establish ethics, guidelines and best practices for future patients, clinicians, and commercial entities engaging with BCI research. Ian serves as Vice President of the North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium and chairs their project review committee. He has also worked with Unite2Fight Paralysis to advocate for $9 million of SCI research in his home state of Ohio. Ian has been a Reeve peer mentor since 2015 and helps lead two local SCI networking groups. As the president of the Ian Burkhart Foundation, he raises funds for accessible equipment for the independence of others with SCI. Ian is also a full-time consultant working with multiple medical device companies.

Andrew Atkinson
Manager, Emerging Science Policy, Health Canada

Andrew Atkinson is the Manager of the Emerging Sciences Policy Unit under the Strategic Policy Branch of Health Canada. He oversees coordination of science policy issues across the various regulatory and research programs under the mandate of Health Canada. Prior to Health Canada, he was a manager under Environment Canada’s CEPA new chemicals program, where he oversaw chemical and nanomaterial risk assessments, and the development of risk assessment methodologies. In parallel to domestic work, he has been actively engaged in ISO [International Organization for Standardization and OECD nanotechnology efforts.

Andrew is currently a member of the Canadian delegation to the OECD Working Party on Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies (BNCT). BNCT aims to contribute original policy analysis on emerging science and technologies, such as gene editing and neurotechnology, including messaging to the global community, convening key stakeholders in the field, and making ground-breaking proposals to policy makers.

Professor Judy Illes
Professor, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UBC [University of British Columbia]

Dr. Illes is Professor of Neurology and Distinguished Scholar in Neuroethics at the University of British Columbia. She is the Director of Neuroethics Canada, and among her many leadership positions in Canada, she is Vice Chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Advisory Board of the Institute on Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), and chair of the International Brain Initiative (www.internationalbraininitiative.org; www.canadianbrain.ca), Director at Large of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Council of Canadian Academies.

Dr. Illes is a world-renown expert whose research, teaching and outreach are devoted to ethical, legal, social and policy challenges at the intersection of the brain sciences and biomedical ethics. She has made ground breaking contributions to neuroethical thinking for neuroscience discovery and clinical translation across the life span, including in entrepreneurship and in the commercialization of health care. Dr. Illes has a unique and comprehensive overview of the field of neurotechnology and the relevant sectors in Canada.

One concern I don’t see mentioned is bankruptcy (in other words, what happens if the company that made your neural implant goes bankrupt?) either in the panel description or in the OECD recommendation. My April 5, 2022 posting “Going blind when your neural implant company flirts with bankruptcy (long read)” explored that topic and while many of the excerpted materials present a US perspective, it’s easy to see how it could also apply in Canada and elsewhere.

For those of us on the West Coast, this session starts at 9 am. Enjoy!

*June 20, 2023: This sentence changed (We tend not to recognize that walking for the major achievement it is.) to We tend not to recognize walking for the major achievement it is.

Science Meets (Canadian) Parliament’s call for applications

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The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is accepting applications for its Science Meets Parliament programme and there’s an online information session coming up on October 26, 2022. Read on, from an October 13, 2022 CSPC announcement received via email,

The application process for Science Meets Parliament 2023 is now open!

Science Meets Parliament (SMP) is a program that works to strengthen the connections between the science and policy communities. This program is open to Tier II Canada Research Chairs, Indigenous faculty members, and Banting Postdoctoral Fellows. The deadline to apply for this program is November 30th, 2022. To apply, click here.

A virtual information session will be held for eligible candidates on October 26th, from 12:00-1:00 pm ET [emphases mine]. For more information, click here.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available! Click on this link here for more information.

I have more from the Science Meets Parliament 2023 webpage on the CSPC website (Note: i have restructured and reformatted the information from the page),

The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the connections between Canada’s scientific and political communities, enable a two-way dialogue, and promote mutual understanding. This initiative aims to help scientists become familiar with policy making at the political level, and for parliamentarians to explore using scientific evidence in policy making. This initiative is not meant to be an advocacy exercise, and will not include any discussion of science funding or other forms of advocacy.

The Science Meets Parliament model is adapted from the successful Australian program held annually since 1999. Similar initiatives exist in the EU, the UK and Spain.

CSPC’s program aims to benefit the parliamentarians, the scientific community and, indirectly, the Canadian public.

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) are pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2023 edition of Science Meets Parliament!

This program is scheduled to take place in Ottawa in spring 2023, subject to Parliament being in session and in person.

…

CSPC and OCSA are pleased to offer this program in 2023 to help strengthen the connection between the science and policy communities. The program provides an excellent opportunity for researchers to learn about the inclusion of scientific evidence in policy making in Parliament.

The Science Meets Parliament program has taken place twice (November 5-6, 2018 & May 9-10, 2022) and brought nearly 60 emerging leaders of the scientific community from across Canada to the Hill. The program has been a great success, receiving positive feedback from both Science Meets Parliament delegates and participating parliamentarians.

A virtual information session will be held on October 26, 2022, 12:00-1:00 pm ET – interested parties may register here.

…

Before you dash off, here’s who’s eligible and some of the requirements, from the Science Meets Parliament 2023 webpage,

The program will be available to three streams:

  • Researchers who currently hold a Tier II Canada Research Chair position and are affiliated with a Canadian post-secondary institution (Tier II Canada Research Chair status must be announced by November 30th, 2022).
  • Indigenous researchers (priority will be given to researchers who are faculty members affiliated with academic research institutions).
  • Researchers who currently hold a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship and are affiliated with a Canadian post-secondary institution (Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship status must be announced by November 30th, 2022).

Former Science Meets Parliament delegates (from 2018 and 2021) are excluded from application.

About 40 researchers from a diverse range of disciplines will be invited to participate in Science Meets Parliament 2023. In future iterations of this program, we hope to expand the application process further to include researchers from more career stages.

A multi-disciplinary committee will oversee the application and selection process, during which the diversity of disciplines, geography, and identities will be considered.

The application deadline is November 30th, 2022.

…

  1. Registration fee: Accepted delegates will be required to pay a registration fee of $600 (Canada Research Chairs) or $300 (Banting Postdoctoral Fellows), which includes admission to the program, breakfast, lunch, one dinner and an evening networking reception. All delegates will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
  2. Scientists who attend this session are required to share their experience and insights from the SMP program through a lecture at their host institution and/or an editorial in a CSPC featured editorial series or the OCSA website.

Delegates are highly encouraged to publish about their experience in academic or news publications. Participants are also encouraged to publish pieces in other media on their research to engage the general public.

For more information, please contact sciencemeetsparliament@sciencepolicy.ca

To apply for this program in English click here, for French click here.

Bonne chance!