This year, PIPSC will launch the next phase of our campaign - Why Public Science Matters. Part of the drive to highlight the importance of public science will involve gathering your stories about why you are passionate about your work, what you have achieved, and why your work is important to Canadians.
In June 2013, Environics Research conducted a survey of federal scientists to better understand how cuts to science and communication policies have impacted public science capacity as well as public health, safety and the environment. The following is a representative selection from over 1,000 comments anonymously posted by federal government scientists as part of the survey.
The results of an extensive survey of federal government scientists on the impact of ongoing cutbacks and a further public opinion survey of Canadians’ top science priorities reveal that, in addition to seriously harming Canada’s capacity to serve the public, the Harper government’s agenda for science is severely out of sync with the wishes of a large majority of Canadians.
A major survey of federal government scientists commissioned by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), has found that 90% feel they are not allowed to speak freely to the media about the work they do and that, faced with a departmental decision that could harm public health, safety or the environment, nearly as many (86%) would face censure or retaliation for doing so.
Every day, scientists, researchers and regulators working in government departments, agencies and laboratories contribute to the health, safety and prosperity of Canadians and their communities.
Entrepreneurs, academics, policymakers and people from all walks of life understand the important contribution that science for the public good makes to our society.
Here, some of them make the case for public science...
CFIA Consultations and Canadian Food Safety (PDF)
Publish Date: 19-DEC-2014 02:44 AM
As part of the 2014 CFIA Consultations, the Professional Institute of The Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) has submitted a detailed analysis of each of the following proposals:
Scientists Rally in Support of Federal Research
Publish Date: 27-NOV-2014 11:16 AM
On the morning of October 22, researchers and science staff from Natural Resources Canada, Agriculture & Agri-food Canada and the Department of National Defence demonstrated in Québec city at the entrance of Université Laval in support of research in the federal government.
The Canada First Research Excellence Fund seems to be the Harper government’s response to fierce criticism about its science policies. It was announced with much fanfare last week (although it had appeared in the spring budget) by Prime Minister Stephen Harper as an unprecedented investment to strengthen Canada’s position in the world of science. But it came on the heels of an uproar in the scientific community over the imminent shuttering of a world-class science facility at the University of Ottawa, highlighting precisely what many critics believe is wrong with the Conservatives’ approach to science.
Irrités par les interventions du gouvernement Harper, les scientifiques fédéraux ont concocté un répulsif inusité: des clauses à insérer dans leur convention collective. Reste à voir si le remède sera homologué.