CSPC 2021

Organized by: Genome Canada

Twenty years after the Human Genome Project, genomics is delivering on its promise: a big data science that—combined with AI, gene editing and biomanufacturing—is revolutionizing our wellbeing and economies. The U.K., U.S. and others are launching genomics strategies to maximize impact for their citizens. Canada is doing the same. Budget 2021 announced $400M for a new Pan-Canadian Genomics Strategy to build on the excellence Canada has built in genomics. This session will explore what it will take to build an effective Strategy, opportunities for Canada’s continued leadership in genomics, and the confluence of genomics with other transformational technologies.​​​​

Organized by: Public Services and Procurement Canada – Laboratories Canada 

Systemic barriers, past and present, continue to hinder progress towards inclusivity of First Nation, Inuit and Métis Nation knowledge and ways of knowing. These barriers are physical, operational, and cultural. This session will help us explore how Indigenous voices in STEM may be amplified by talking with Indigenous leaders of change. The panelists have been walking the path of reconciliation by leading transformative change, bringing First Nation, Inuit and Métis Nation perspectives to their work and influencing their organisations and institutions. This panel will share their recent experiences and thoughts on how Indigenous Peoples and allies can support First Nation, Inuit and Métis Nation inclusion in science by creating cultural safety through physical and interpersonal spaces.

222: Convergence of Science, Technology, and Social Activism: A Path Towards the Inclusion of Minority Language Speakers-Organized by Centro de Investigación en Computación del Instituto Politécnico Nacional

223: How Can Academic-Community Collaborations help realize the Power and Promise of Big Data to Address Social Justice Challenges in Canada? - Organized by: Simon Fraser University

275: Generating a road map of strategies for immigrant women in STEM: moving forward to a better future - Organized by: Immigrant & International Women in Science Network (IWS Network)

Organized by: Université de Sherbrooke / Institut quantique

A multisectorial and multidisciplinary approach to quantum science is essential in Canada to address the emergence of new disruptive quantum technologies and their potential commercial applications. These technologies will have significant ethical, environmental, economic, social and legal implications that need to be explored in the early stages of their development in order to foster socially responsible development. This panel brings together experts from various backgrounds (academic, business and government sectors) and the public to discuss the socio-economic dimensions of quantum technologies, starting from different implementation scenarios, to ensure their responsible development and to maximize benefits of their implementation.

Organized by: Natural Resources Canada

Governments, academic institutions and the private sector collect and generate a vast and ever-expanding array of data catalyzed by the internet of things and digital technologies. In the current science and technology climate, the lack of a generally accepted framework limits the potential to ascertain the true value of data and derive economic and societal benefit from data assets, digital tools and applications. This panel will convene senior public servants to discuss the challenges for implementing data governance in the public sector and approaches for considering how data assets may be valuated to support organizational strategic decision-making.

Organized by: National Research Council Canada


Humankind is facing unprecedented challenges such as climate change and water scarcity, which must be resolved at the global level. Addressing global sustainability issues will require tremendous effort.
 
To maximize our collective potential to achieve a sustainable future, the full participation of women is required. Gender inequality in STEM hinders women's economic prosperity and undermines global contributions to the innovation economy that are crucial to shared sustainability goals.
 
The panelists, from diverse sectors and domains, will discuss needs and gaps, tools and policies, and share best practices for advancing gender equity and diversifying a STEM workforce.

Organized by: Hoffman-La Roche Limited

Our healthcare system is currently challenged to manage the growing burden of chronic diseases on
Canadians, especially given our aging population. Health system readiness, with a focus on brain
health, is key to supporting people living with chronic diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease. The panel is intended to spark discussion on brain health and health system readiness
post-pandemic, and highlight opportunities to improve health outcomes and system efficiencies with
innovation and effective planning.

Organized by: Colleges and Institutes Canada

For vulnerable and underrepresented groups such as women, immigrants, racialized communities and Indigenous peoples, COVID-19 has deepened and exacerbated systemic and underlying inequities. Motivated by solving practical challenges within their communities, college applied research centres gather students, faculty and technology to work collaboratively with a broad range of partners. This “non-traditional” approach to research leverages the unique strengths of each partner for the benefit of the entire community. Five leaders from different segments of the innovation ecosystem will share their recipes for success in collaborating with research partners to achieve social innovation impacts and advance a more just society.

Organized by: Diversity Institute, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University

​Canada is a very diverse country, and, with a significant proportion of its demographic and economic growth coming from racialized groups and from immigration. Recognizing the importance of Canadian youth in accounting for one-third of total Canadian population and as a highly diverse group, the Canadian government introduced multiple policies and programs, such as the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, to support youth to engage in the workforce. Using a gender and intersectional lens, this panel includes four presentations on gaps in youth support programs, barriers for Black youth entrepreneurs, stereotypes of youth entrepreneurs, and future skills for youth. 
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Organized by: Evidence for Democracy

How is evidence used in policymaking? Who stewards it through the structures of government? While we all benefit when governments make decisions informed by the best available evidence, conversations on evidence-informed policy rarely prioritize the public’s ability to understand what goes into complex decisions. This is especially important amid uncertainty when trust in government is mission critical. Throughout the pandemic, stakeholders everywhere have sought to understand decisions that have impacted their livelihoods. Transparency is the persistently missing link.

Panelists from academia, government and civil society will examine Canada’s ‘transparency gap’, and discuss pathways to improve the accessibility of evidence. 

Organized by: Canada Foundation for Innovation

​To shed light on the relationship of Canada’s youth to science and their preferred sources of scientific information, the CFI and Acfas have hired the national polling firm Ipsos to look at the attitudes of youth toward science and at the conditions and people who shape them.

This survey is being conducted in a public environment where social media, fake news and unreliable sources can strongly influence the development of attitudes and belief systems among young people that can stay with them for life, and that can potentially directly impact their career, health and societal choices.   

This panel will unveil the survey results and will feature a discussion of some of the key drivers that influence Canadian youth and their attitudes about science.
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Organized by: Fonds de recherche du Québec

The people who lead the organizations that support or oversee scientific activity can have a profound impact on the research produced there. To what extent can women, who are under-represented in many scientific fields and in leadership positions, bring about significant change in the science ecosystem? 

For the first time in history, the three research funds in Québec are lead by women. During this panel, the three scientific directors will discuss their roles and their priorities with other leading women in research and will reflect on ways in which the system could be redesigned to ensure that more women have access to leadership positions in science.

Les personnes à la tête des organisations qui soutiennent ou encadrent l’activité scientifique peuvent avoir une grande influence sur la recherche qui y est produite. Dans quelle mesure les femmes, sous-représentées dans plusieurs domaines de recherche et dans les postes de haute direction, peuvent-elles amener des changements importants dans l’écosystème scientifique ? 

Pour la première fois depuis leur existence, les trois fonds de recherche du Québec sont chacun dirigés par une femme. A l’occasion de ce panel, les trois directrices scientifiques discuteront de leur rôle et de leurs priorités avec d’autres femmes leader en recherche, et réfléchiront aux façons dont le système pourrait être repensé pour que plus de femmes accèdent à des postes de haute direction en science.

Organized by: Health Canada

Three Panelists will share diverse perspectives on the sensitive and ubiquitous topic of systemic racism, in multiple aspects of different scientific disciplines. In a dynamic exchange, the Moderator will guide the audience through an evidence-based journey on how racially biased science can be addressed, in ways science is practiced, managed, and consumed. As it often happens in science, naming problems might be unsettling, yet should lead to a healthy introspection towards improvement. The discussion aims to show that, individually and collectively, we can prevent and correct race-based bias by sticking to fundamental scientific principles. Essentially: anti-racist science is better science. 

Organized by: Elect STEM

Curious about running for political office? It is critical that more scientists and engineers run for public office across the political spectrum and all levels of government to ensure that science has a seat at the table when major decisions are being discussed. Elected officials with a science and engineering background also have the training to use evidence-based decision making; evaluate and assess risk; and lead colleagues through complex issues. This panel will be a candid discussion with scientists and engineers who have run for office, to share their experiences, strategies, and advice to get involved politically.  

Organized by: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute / uOttawa

Science is currently dominated by a ‘closed’ research culture. Open science is a philosophical approach that includes a set of practices that seeks to change this to make research more accessible. At present, there are a variety of ongoing initiatives and policies that seek to embed open science in Canada. Despite stakeholders espousing the value of open science, there is a key challenge in terms of effective implementation. This panel will flag challenges and suggest steps toward implementing open science practices at Canadian universities and biomedical research institutions. It will discuss the connection between open science and research quality.

Organized by: Science Up First

Throughout the pandemic there has been a significant increase in misinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding public health and science that threaten the health and safety of Canadians. Misinformation has greatly contributed to vaccine hesitancy and distrust in public health measures, and has led to anti-mask, anti-lockdown rallies. More importantly, underserved and marginalized communities have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 due to inequities in our healthcare system. Therefore, it is important that we dispel misinformation around vaccines and create trusting environments in a culturally sensitive manner. Science Up First presents a panel on tools and strategies some experts use when tackling misinformation.

Organized by: Public Services and Procurement Canada – Laboratories Canada

The federal science community has long identified barriers to science excellence, collaboration and innovation in Canada. Laboratories Canada has announced a new strategic approach to federal science with the vision of creating a more integrated and agile approach to building federal laboratories. This panel brings together experts to advise Laboratories Canada in creating enabling conditions and solutions to address institutional and governance barriers. Many of these barriers -  ranging from public participation, security issues, safeguarding intellectual property -  are not new issues, but we may finally have the platform to start pulling them down or doing things entirely differently.

Organized by: Université Laval

​In 2016, science academies from 14 nations declared: The human brain is civilization’s most precious resource. Investment in brain science is, therefore, an investment in the future of society, and nations must cooperate to understand, protect, and foster optimal development of the brain (http://bit.ly/G-SciBrain2016). Building on lessons learned from established transnational and national brain initiatives, we will discuss the need and opportunity to develop a strategy where Canada can distinguish itself by setting the standard for a new model of neuroscience that is open, collaborative, transdisciplinary and ethical. The objective being to build consensus among the broadest range of stakeholders
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In 2019 the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) came into effect, requiring organizations prepare and publish accessibility plans, establish feedback processes, and report on these processes and progress in achieving its goal of making Canada barrier-free by 2040. The introduction of the ACA heightened the need for pan-Canadian mechanisms for organizations and stakeholders to engage across sectors, disciplines, and industries in action-oriented collaborations to address the multifaceted issues in accessibility. The Canadian Accessibility Network (CAN), under the leadership of the READ Initiative at Carleton University, has been developed to address this need. This panel focuses on a program of work undertaken by CAN’s Policy Domain Committee (DAC) to advance disability inclusive accessibility policy processes. Science and stakeholder informed inclusive accessibility policy processes drive the DAC’s strategic priorities, which include: 1) Identifying emerging issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and engaging with relevant communities, stakeholders and governing bodies to centre the perspectives and rights of diverse people with disabilities; 2) Coordinating policy fora where scientists and cross-disability first voice advocates address policy questions being asked by public, private and non-profit decision-makers related to the Accessible Canada Act; 3) Scanning accessibility and disability inclusion policy and policy research to identify how governments are developing and implementing accessibility and disability inclusion policy across jurisdictions; 4) Designing a disability inclusive policy analysis tool to support an intersectional human rights approach to accessibility policy. Panelists describe how disability communities can be meaningfully engaged in policy processes to inform the development of science policy into the future.