World's scientists call on Stephen Harper to restore science funding, freedom
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World's scientists call on Stephen Harper to restore science funding, freedom
Open letter warns about impact of Canadian science policy on international collaboration
5:15 AM ET
Emily Chung, CBC News
Hundreds of scientists around the world are asking Prime Minister Stephen Harper to end "burdensome restrictions on scientific communication and collaboration faced by Canadian government scientists."
The call was made in an open letter drafted by the Cambridge, Mass.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, a group that represents U.S. scientists and uses science to advocate for environmental sustainability.
Read the full letter
The letter was signed by more than 800 scientists outside Canada from 32 countries, at institutions ranging from Harvard Medical School in the U.S. to the Max Planck Institute in Germany.
The letter says "a rapid decline in freedoms and funding" for Canadian government scientists is making it more difficult for them to conduct research, communicate scientific information and expertise and collaborate internationally.
"Canada's leadership in basic research, environmental, health, and other public science is in jeopardy," the letter says. "We urge you to restore government science funding and the freedom and opportunities to communicate these findings internationally."
The signed letter is being promoted in Canadian newspaper and online ads paid for by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), which represents 60,000 public servants across Canada, including more than 15,000 federal government scientists. The ad campaign is being launched during the Government of Canada’s Science and Technology week.
CBC has requested comment about the letter from Ed Holder, the Conservative government's Minister of State for Science and Technology.
Michael Halpern, manager of strategy of innovation for the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the letter is meant to show how concerned the world is about the impact that Canadian government restrictions on its own scientists have on international scientific collaboration. In some cases, he said, U.S. researchers are reluctant to collaborate with Canadian government scientists because of partnership agreements drafted by the Canadian government that restrict their ability to publish their data.
In other cases, cuts to the collection of Canadian air pollution and climate monitoring data are affecting scientists' ability to get a complete picture of what's happening, Halpern said.
His group is also concerned about reports of restrictions on Canadian government scientists' ability to travel to conferences to share their results.
"I think it's a loss for the international science community," he said. "Science thrives in an environment that is open and free and where researchers can collaborate across borders. Canadian government scientists have made many critical contributions to our understanding of environmental and public health challenges, and we need the best and the brightest throughout the world to be able to work together."
Halpern said his group shared its letter with the PIPSC, as in the past, it has faced similar problems in the U.S. to what Canadian government scientists are facing. It has been advising PIPSC on solutions that might lead to positive changes in scientific policy-making in Canada.
PIPSC is publicizing the letter in Canadian ads because "we thought it was important to draw attention to what the world thinks – what the science world thinks," said Peter Bleyer, a policy adviser for the union.
He added that Canadian federal government scientists can't speak freely themselves, so it is turning to their international collaborators to raise their voices.
He added that $2.6 billion in cuts have been budgeted for the 10 top science-based federal government ministries and departments between 2013 and 2016.
"There's so much evidence pointing to how government science has been undermined and how Canadian government scientists has been muzzled," Bleyer said. " What is more important now is what's the impact of that? What's the impact in terms of our reputation around the world…and what's the impact on Canadians in their day to day life?... We really hope that this appeal to what the world thinks of Canada is something that will strike a chord."
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Federal scientists muzzled by media policies, report suggests
Muzzling of federal scientists widespread, survey suggests
Alleged scientist muzzling probed by information commissioner
Stand Up for Science rallies target federal government
Ottawa attempts to silence critics by targeting academics
Federal scientist media request generates email frenzy but no interview
External Links
Open letter to Stephen Harper
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.
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Copyright © CBC 2014
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/technology...-to-restore-science-funding-freedom-1.2806571
go backNews Technology & Science
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World's scientists call on Stephen Harper to restore science funding, freedom
Open letter warns about impact of Canadian science policy on international collaboration
5:15 AM ET
Emily Chung, CBC News
Hundreds of scientists around the world are asking Prime Minister Stephen Harper to end "burdensome restrictions on scientific communication and collaboration faced by Canadian government scientists."
The call was made in an open letter drafted by the Cambridge, Mass.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, a group that represents U.S. scientists and uses science to advocate for environmental sustainability.
Read the full letter
The letter was signed by more than 800 scientists outside Canada from 32 countries, at institutions ranging from Harvard Medical School in the U.S. to the Max Planck Institute in Germany.
The letter says "a rapid decline in freedoms and funding" for Canadian government scientists is making it more difficult for them to conduct research, communicate scientific information and expertise and collaborate internationally.
"Canada's leadership in basic research, environmental, health, and other public science is in jeopardy," the letter says. "We urge you to restore government science funding and the freedom and opportunities to communicate these findings internationally."
The signed letter is being promoted in Canadian newspaper and online ads paid for by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), which represents 60,000 public servants across Canada, including more than 15,000 federal government scientists. The ad campaign is being launched during the Government of Canada’s Science and Technology week.
CBC has requested comment about the letter from Ed Holder, the Conservative government's Minister of State for Science and Technology.
Michael Halpern, manager of strategy of innovation for the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the letter is meant to show how concerned the world is about the impact that Canadian government restrictions on its own scientists have on international scientific collaboration. In some cases, he said, U.S. researchers are reluctant to collaborate with Canadian government scientists because of partnership agreements drafted by the Canadian government that restrict their ability to publish their data.
In other cases, cuts to the collection of Canadian air pollution and climate monitoring data are affecting scientists' ability to get a complete picture of what's happening, Halpern said.
His group is also concerned about reports of restrictions on Canadian government scientists' ability to travel to conferences to share their results.
"I think it's a loss for the international science community," he said. "Science thrives in an environment that is open and free and where researchers can collaborate across borders. Canadian government scientists have made many critical contributions to our understanding of environmental and public health challenges, and we need the best and the brightest throughout the world to be able to work together."
Halpern said his group shared its letter with the PIPSC, as in the past, it has faced similar problems in the U.S. to what Canadian government scientists are facing. It has been advising PIPSC on solutions that might lead to positive changes in scientific policy-making in Canada.
PIPSC is publicizing the letter in Canadian ads because "we thought it was important to draw attention to what the world thinks – what the science world thinks," said Peter Bleyer, a policy adviser for the union.
He added that Canadian federal government scientists can't speak freely themselves, so it is turning to their international collaborators to raise their voices.
He added that $2.6 billion in cuts have been budgeted for the 10 top science-based federal government ministries and departments between 2013 and 2016.
"There's so much evidence pointing to how government science has been undermined and how Canadian government scientists has been muzzled," Bleyer said. " What is more important now is what's the impact of that? What's the impact in terms of our reputation around the world…and what's the impact on Canadians in their day to day life?... We really hope that this appeal to what the world thinks of Canada is something that will strike a chord."
Share this story
Related Links
Federal scientists muzzled by media policies, report suggests
Muzzling of federal scientists widespread, survey suggests
Alleged scientist muzzling probed by information commissioner
Stand Up for Science rallies target federal government
Ottawa attempts to silence critics by targeting academics
Federal scientist media request generates email frenzy but no interview
External Links
Open letter to Stephen Harper
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.
Mobile ServicesContact UsHelp
Terms of UsePrivacy
Copyright © CBC 2014
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/technology...-to-restore-science-funding-freedom-1.2806571
