The first lecture of the Canadian Science Policy Lecture Series featured Sir Peter Gluckman, Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, who gave a presentation titled Science Advice in a Troubled World on Monday, January 16. ย The Canadian Science Policy Lecture Series was created by the Canadian Science Policy Centreย (CSPC).
Science Advice in a Troubled World Lecture Introduction
From the Canadian Science Policy Centre: “The world is facing many challenges from environmental degradation and climate change to global health issues, and many more. Societal relationships are changing; sources of information, reliable and otherwise, and their transmission are affecting the nature of public policy.”
- Within this context the question arises; how can scientific advice to governments help address these emerging issues in a more unstable and uncertain world?
- The relationship between science and politics is complex and the challenges at their interface are growing. What does scientific advice mean within this context?
- How can science better inform policy where decision making is increasingly made against a background of post-truth polemic?
Sir Gluckmanย is also the Chair of the International Network of Government Science Advice.
University of Ottawa’s Institute for Science Society and Policy (ISSP) were the host for the event.
The lecture started with introductory speeches by Monica Gattiner, Director of ISSP, Jacques Frรฉmont, President of the University of Ottawa as well as Mehrdad Hariri, CEO and President of the Canadian Science Policy Centre.