An Experiment Mixing Scientists and Government

Preston Manning, Globe and Mail – June 2, 2009

A good starting point would be a high-profile gathering in

Ottawa
U.S. President Barack Obama has appointed a Nobel Prize-winning physicist
to his cabinet and promised, in his inaugural address, to "restore science to
its rightful place." He has also identified science, technology and innovation
as essential to the attainment of clean energy and economic recovery - all of
which has sparked a wave of optimism in America's scientific community.

In Canada, by contrast, there is widespread disappointment among scientists

and researchers that their sector does not appear to figure prominently in
Ottawa's recovery plans.

The government may well protest, pointing to its substantial annual

commitments under Canada's Science and Technology Strategy (May, 2007)
as well as the commitment made in the 2009 budget to provide $5-billion in
new spending. (This includes $750-million for the Canada Foundation for
Innovation, $110-million for the Canada Space Agency, continued long-term
funding for Genome Canada, $200-million for the National Research Council
in support of industrial research, and creation of a new Clean Energy Fund.)

The reality remains, however, that there was no explicit statement from the
federal government in either its Throne Speech or budget on whether - or
how - it intends to harness science, technology and innovation to the task of
economic recovery. No explicit invitation or challenge has been issued to the
community of scientists and researchers to play such a role - nor has the
government done anything yet to calm the community's fears that it may be
left in the dust of the Obama initiatives.

All of which raises the question: What should be done?

A good starting point for the government would be for the Prime Minister or
Industry Minister to issue an explicit invitation to the science and technology
community - including federal funding agencies, the big science projects,
university researchers and private-sector R&D groups - to specifically identify
what the sector can contribute to increased productivity, competitiveness,
public health, environmental conservation and clean energy during this time
of economic duress, and what government actions are required to facilitate
that.

A good starting point would be to organize, within the next six weeks, a one-
day, high-profile gathering in Ottawa of the country's top science
practitioners, administrators, entrepreneurs, investors and communicators.
The purpose would be to showcase what they and their peers can contribute
to all of the above, especially economic recovery.

This event would be organized by a professional event-planning company,

not an agency or company with a vested interest in federal science spending
or policy.

Attendees would spend at least half their time in as many meetings as could
be arranged with MPs, senators, senior civil servants and media
representatives to convey a single, positive, amply illustrated message:
Canada's science and technology community stands ready and willing to do
its part to assist in coping with the recession if given the direction,
opportunity and resources to do so.

The highlight of the day would be short addresses by top scientists in the
areas of greatest concern to the government and where the community has
the greatest contributions to make. These could include the economy
(productivity and competitiveness), health and environment, clean energy
and the amelioration of the recession's social impacts.

Science and engineering students in every research laboratory and university

across the country could organize a parallel supportive event through the
Internet on the same day - a virtual Science Day in Canada - using all those
social networking tools with which they are so dexterous.
The idea of the event would be to avoid complaints, government-bashing,
excessive Obama worship (this is a Canadian gathering) and partisanship -
and have the day in Ottawa end instead with a grand reception at which any
parliamentarian wishing to show personal support and encouragement for
the community would be welcome.

Canadians need every available resource to be harnessed to the task of

economic recovery. Let's make sure our leaders in science, technology and
innovation are given the maximum opportunity to show what they can do.