Leaders in science policy to gather in Toronto in October to discuss future
directions

TORONTO , Sept. 22 /CNW/ - The 2009 Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC), to be held Oct 28-30 in Toronto , will serve as a forum for members of the Canadian scientific community from the academic, industry, government and non-profit sectors to engage in a vigorous discussion of the most important science policy issues facing the country, and to forge lasting linkages between stakeholders and policymakers. The early-bird registration deadline for the conference has been extended to Sep 30, 2009 .

"There is a growing recognition that the complexity of the scientific enterprise in the 21st century requires a dynamic and interconnected policy community," said Dr. Mehrdad Hariri , chair of the CSPC organizing committee. " Canada has a pressing need for a comprehensive, multi-sectorial and multidisciplinary forum to address science policy issues of national importance. We are pleased to have assembled an outstanding program, including 13 panel discussions across 5 overarching themes, with over 50 leading scientists, policymakers and industry representatives."

    
    The 2.5-day CSPC will feature:

    -   a reception with opening remarks by the Hon. John Milloy, Ontario
        Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Minister of
        Research and Innovation

    -   keynote addresses by: the Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State,
        Science and Technology; and Preston Manning, President and CEO of the
        Manning Centre for Building Democracy

    -   over 50 leading speakers from the academic, industry, government, and
        non-profit communities, including:

        -  Dr. Alain Beaudet, President, Canadian Institutes of Health
           Research (CIHR)
        -  Dr. Christian Burks, President & CEO, Ontario Genomics Institute
        -  Peter Calamai, Science Reporter, The Toronto Star
        -  Dr. Suzanne Fortier, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering
           Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
        -  Dr. Peter R. Frise, Scientific Director and CEO, AUTO21 Network of
           Centres of Excellence
        -  Dr. Chad Gaffield, President, Social Sciences and Humanities
           Research Council (SSHRC)
        -  Dr. Peter Hackett, President & CEO, Alberta Ingenuity Fund
        -  Kei Koizumi, Assistant Director for Federal Research and
           Development, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
        -  Tony McBride, Head of Strategy, Science Policy Centre, Royal
           Society, UK
        -  Dr. Andrew Miall, President, Academy of Science, Royal Society of
           Canada
        -  Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill
           University
        -  Dr. Peter Nicholson, President & CEO, Council of Canadian
           Academies
        -  Dr. Jorge Niosi, Canada Research Chair on the Management of
           Technology, Université du Québec à Montréal
        -  Dr. Peter Singer, Director, McLaughlin- Rotman Centre for Global
           Health
        -  Dr. Caroline Wagner, Research Scientist, Center for International
           Science and Technology Policy, George Washington University

    -   13 panel discussions:

        -  Canada's national science & technology strategies
        -  Implementing scientific knowledge in the decision-making process
        -  Stakeholder communication in the Canadian scientific community
        -  Private sector research & development - role of R&D in the global
           economy
        -  Innovation commercialization - from bench to market
        -  Meeting the challenges ahead - Canada's policies on environment
           and energy
        -  Canadian economy - from resource based to knowledge driven
        -  Governance of emerging technologies
        -  Science education and a new culture of civic engagement
        -  The democratization of science
        -  Science journalism, media and communication
        -  Best science-policy best practices from other nations
        -  Science diplomacy and international cooperation
        -  extensive time for Q&A, networking, sharing best practices, and
           building new relationships
    

The 2009 Canadian Science Policy Conference aims to catalyze a national conversation on science policy that will benefit all Canadians, in the spirit of its slogan of "better policies, better science." For more information or to register, please visit www.sciencepolicy.ca.

For further information: Pamela Gutteridge, [email protected], [phone]