Funding, News and Announcements

A panel of nine research leaders and innovators will be spending the next six months conducting a review of how to best optimize federal support for fundamental science in Canada.

The announcement was made this morning by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, minister of science. The review will assess what is currently in place to support science and scientists in Canada, including the three granting councils (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and certain federally funded organizations like the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

The expert panel will be chaired by David Naylor, former president of the University of Toronto, and includes two prominent Dalhousie connections. Martha Crago, the university’s vice-president research, will serve on the panel, as will Art McDonald (left), Dal alumnus, former director of the Sudbury Neutrino Laboratory and Nobel Laureate.

“I am honoured and excited to have been asked to be on this panel,” says Dr.Crago. 

The review of fundamental science stems from commitment in the most recent federal budget to ensure all federal support for research is strategic and effective. The panel aims for its findings to “help maintain and strengthen Canada's international standing in fundamental science and ensure that our scientists have the tools, training and support needed to excel globally.”

“Our country's support for investigator driven research has grown and developed over more than four decades, often one program or agency at a time," says Dr. Crago. "This is a wonderful opportunity to take a fresh look at the gaps and how to turn them into opportunities.

"I believe that the panel will find there are a number of ways to organize support for research across various countries, some of which will be new to Canada and will be worthy of consideration.”

The panel will be seeking input from Canada’s research community over the course of the summer and fall, with Canadians also invited to participate in the review through an online portal.

 In addition to Dr. Crago and Dr. McDonald, other panelists include:

• Robert Birgeneau, former chancellor, University of California, Berkeley
• Mike Lazaridis, co-founder, Quantum Valley Investments
• Claudia Malacrida, associate vice-president, research, University of Lethbridge
• Martha Piper, interim president, University of British Columbia
• Remi Quirion, chief scientist, Government of Quebec
• Anne Wilson, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Successful Societies fellow and professor of psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University
  

“I look forward to working with my fellow panellists and with Canadians in assessing the programs that support researchers who are charting new frontiers in investigator-initiated research,“ said Dr. Naylor in a release. “Our review will provide the government with the evidence it needs to build upon Canada’s ambitious research culture.”

More information on the review and the panelists involved can be found on sciencereview.ca. The report and its recommendations will be made public before the end of the year.