Massive Review of Federal Science Funding Reveals Risks to Younger Researchers
The long-awaited review of Ottawa’s science funding apparatus, commissioned by Ms. Duncan and unveiled on Monday, is described as the most comprehensive in four decades. And while that apparatus is mostly unseen and largely impenetrable to those who do not rely on federal research funds, it carries the lifeblood of Canada’s scientific enterprise and its downstream benefits to innovation and commercialization.
It also makes clear that the new advisory council it recommends would replace the Science Technology and Innovation Council (STIC), which was created under then-prime minister Stephen Harper’s government to provide confidential science advice and conduct public biennial reviews of the state of science in Canada. Former chair Howard Alper said he hoped those reviews will continue even if STIC is ultimately phased out. He added that the review panel’s report was “an excellent beginning. But we need to be even more ambitious.”
For scientists, that progress will have to include more funding, particularly for the granting councils which received a $95-million increase last year but no further increases in 2017. (This time around the budget prioritized funding for a new series of research chairs and a program to boost research in artificial intelligence.)
On Monday, Ms. Duncan told reporters that she would be reviewing the report together with other cabinet colleagues who oversee granting organizations.