Here I won’t comment directly on the health care “debate” in the USA, not even as a citizen of a country that already has universal health care (i.e., any developed nation other than the USA). Instead, I will just post this clip from New Scientist, which talks about some of the actual data on [...]

For incisive commentary on the topic of science policy in Canada, I direct you to Rob Annan’s excellent blog over at Don’t Leave Canada Behind. Most recently, he provides a response to a rather misplaced critique of Canadian researchers by Michael Bliss in the National Post.

Just to clarify, we’re not just asking for [...]

Just got this through email. Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP)

At the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Canada will allocate $18 million over the next four years for a new scholarship program. The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) will award [...]

This brief article in the Globe & Mail by Jim Turk, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), is a definite must read.

Get the state out of the labs of the nation

See also

Global warming critics appointed to science boards (B. Curry)

So, the results of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships have been released. A big congratulations to this year’s 166 recipients, who represent promising new researchers. However, it cannot be pointed out enough how poorly this program meshes with funding for other Canadian students and scientists. $50,000 for 3 years is what they get, which [...]

Two courageous colleagues have spoken up about the results of the recent Discovery Grant review from NSERC, which was based on new evaluation criteria. Both had previously been funded, and it is hard to imagine how these results are sensible. I think sharing stories like this is very important because otherwise a) researchers can [...]

Planet Harper baffles top scientistsCarol Goar

The National Post reported yesterday on the paradoxical and supremely frustrating approach of funding infrastructure while cutting support for people to use it, citing the example of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. The CNSC received a much-needed infusion of funds to update the facilities, to the tune of $11 million, but rather than having [...]

“At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science. That support for research is somehow a luxury at a moment defined by necessities. I fundamentally disagree. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it [...]