A January 15, 2026 Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) announcement (received via email) includes news about an science culture in Canada virtual panel,

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Upcoming Virtual Panel: Towards a (New) Science Culture Framework in Canada

A strong science culture underpins health, innovation, economic growth, and societal well-being, but what does “science culture” mean today, and how is Canada performing? Building on the Council of Canadian Academies’ 2014 report Science Culture: Where Canada Stands, this panel explores how science culture must evolve to reflect diversity, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, changing economic and geopolitical contexts, and the shifting relationship between science and society. Panellists will examine Canada’s strengths and gaps, the role of institutions and systems in supporting an inclusive and engaged science culture, and how reimagining science culture can position Canada as a global leader in science and innovation.

Click the button below for more panel information and to register!

Register (For Free)

Here are a few more details from the event registration page,

• Date: Feb 3 [2026]
• Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm EST
• Event Category: Virtual Session
• Website: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1kYXoEh8QPy9fEvMU_4afg

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Specifically, we will ask and discuss:

• What is the state of the relationship between science and society and how has it changed in recent years? What are the opportunities and challenges for building a stronger relationship between science and society?
• How is Canada doing in terms of fostering the skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours that comprise a strong science culture? Where are the gaps?
• To what extent do the structures, institutions and interconnecting systems that make up Canada’s science ecosystem support or hinder the emergence of a strong, informed, engaged and inclusive science culture?
• How should we (re)frame and (re)imagine science culture in Canada with a view to enabling global leadership in science and innovation that contributes to societal and individual well-being?

Join us as we unpack these issues and work together to develop practical recommendations to refresh our understanding of Canada’s science culture.

Tracy Ross
Vice President, Network Membership, Actua – Moderator

Tracy Ross is the Vice President, Network Membership at Actua, leading the network member services team, which provides services and support for Actua’s network members, including program leadership, partnership, training, funding, recognition, communication, and day-to-day support. She has a BSc. in Environmental Chemistry (Queen’s University) and an MA in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (University of Toronto) and is working towards her Canadian Association Executive designation.

Dr. Marianne Mader
Executive Director, Canadian Association of Science Centres

Dr. Marianne Mader is the CEO of the Canadian Association of Science Centres, a member-based organization representing over 90 organizations that collectively engage more than 10 million citizens each year in STEM topics. This network of trusted organizations represents a critical component of Canada’s science, technology, and innovation landscape. CASC builds connections between Canada’s science ecosystem and society, provides enriching professional development opportunities for STEM educators and STEM engagement professionals, and develops and manages public national campaigns focused on STEM literacy, digital literacy, and health literacy, such as Together Against Misinformation Week, National Kids & Vaccines Day, and Science Literacy Week.

Dr. Mader is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society College, an alumnus of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership, a recipient of a US Antarctic Service Medal, and an awardee of a King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work in fostering science culture in Canada.

Desirée Sylvestre
Director, Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD U (Ontario College of Art and Design University), Expert on AI misinformation in the Education sector and schools

Desirée Sylvestre is the Director of Education at Visions of Science, where she leads national and local initiatives focused on advancing STEM equity across schools, community organizations, and the broader science ecosystem. Her work centres on supporting educators, institutions, and partners to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to STEM learning and toward more inclusive, culturally responsive, and justice-oriented practices.

Desirée is also a PhD candidate at OISE, University of Toronto, where her research explores how Black preservice teachers think about and practice justice in their science teaching, including how relationships and systems shape their work in classrooms.

Dr. Dan Munro
Director, Research and Innovation, Actua

Dr. Daniel Munro is Director of Research & Innovation at Actua, Canada’s leading youth STEM outreach organization. He is also Co-Director of Shift Insights, a research shop that examines the social, technological and economic challenges and opportunities facing Canada, and Senior Fellow in the Innovation Policy Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. He has taught political science, philosophy and innovation studies at the University of Toronto, Western University, the University of Ottawa, and Queen’s University, was co-host of the Ethics Lab radio show on NewsTalk1310, and Maclean’s Magazine’s Ethics Lab columnist. Dan’s research interests span science and innovation policy, skills and education, and applied ethics, including space ethics. He holds degrees from the University of Toronto (BA), Western University (MA) and M.I.T. (PhD).

Suzi Loney
Research Director, Council of Canadian Academies [CCA]

Suzi Loney is the Research Director at the CCA. She oversees the CCA’s research practices, developing policies, processes, and staff skills to ensure research excellence across the organization. Suzi also leads and supports the development of new assessment projects, working with interested groups outside of the CCA to understand their needs and design corresponding expert engagement processes. Suzi continues to support expert panels with project management, research, and writing.

Prior to joining CCA in 2012, Suzi held several policy-related positions within the Government of Canada at the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and Environment Canada. Suzi has a Bachelor of Arts, Economics from McGill University and a Master of Arts, Economics from the University of Ottawa, where she focussed her studies on environmental economics. During her time at CCA, Suzi has contributed as a researcher and writer to many assessments including incentivizing antimicrobial availability, disaster resilience in a changing climate, and the state of Canada’s science culture.

OK. So, this is about science culture in Canada and (1) you’ve gathered a group of academics who are (2) either based in Ontario or have achieved their educational goals in Ontario.

I have a few questions: What about the rest of Canada? Where are the people (artists, writers, and musicians) who produce culture, including science culture? Where are the citizen scientists? Also, the moderator and a panelist (in a group of five that 40%) are all from Actua?

Interesting.

As for what is Actua, an organization based in Ottawa, Ontario? There’s this from the About Us, Out Story webpage,

Together with a national network of universities and colleges, Actua engages youth from all corners of the country in transformational STEM learning experiences that build critical employability skills and confidence.

One last comment about the panel, the moderator and two of the members are involved with children’s (Actua and OCAD) STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education as is, arguably, a fourth person who is involved with the country’s science centres which are heavily invested in outreach to children and their families.What about the rest of us?

For the curious, I did write up a commentary on the Council of Canadian Academies’ 2014 report Science Culture: Where Canada Stands. Here’s a link to part one of what I titled: Science Culture: Where Canada Stands; an expert assessment, Part 1 of 3: Canadians are doing pretty well.

Should you feel moved to participate, here’s the event registration page.