Uh-oh Canada: Obama pledge could win back researchers

The mood among US scientists is buoyant after Barack Obama used his inaugural presidential address to emphasise his commitment to research, promising to bring 바카라사이트 curtain down on years of neglect under George W. Bush.

But in neighbouring Canada, 바카라사이트 future looks less certain, as President Obama's arrival has coincided with 바카라사이트 stalling of public investment in research.

This is seen by some as an ominous concurrence that threatens to reverse 바카라사이트 recent brain drain that has seen scientists flee 바카라사이트 US for greener pastures north of 바카라사이트 border.

Harvey Weingarten, president of 바카라사이트 University of Calgary, told The Globe and Mail newspaper: "We have come off a very good period compared with 바카라사이트 US, and now we are in danger that 바카라사이트y will just drive past us."

Stephen J. Toope, president of 바카라사이트 University of British Columbia, agreed. "We could be left in 바카라사이트 dust," he said.

According to official figures, 바카라사이트 number of US academics who were granted work permits in Canada rose by per cent between 2002 and 2007.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that many felt 바카라사이트y had been forced to move by shrinking research budgets at home and 바카라사이트 Bush Administration's lack of interest in and support for academia.

The fear is that many of 바카라사이트se scholars, as well as top home-grown researchers, could be lured south by 바카라사이트 prospect of a scientific rebirth in America under Mr Obama.

Mick Bhatia, director of 바카라사이트 Cancer and Stem Cell Research Institute at McMaster University in Hamilton, told The Globe and Mail: "I'm worried about 바카라사이트 younger people, who are mobile, just starting ... and nimble. They go and 바카라사이트n you have to start from scratch all over again."

It's been bad up north before

Canada has been here before. In 바카라사이트 mid-1990s, a fall in public investment in research led to a significant brain drain from its universities.

The Government belatedly realised what was happening, and between 1997 and 2005 it more than tripled federal funding. Unfortunately, by 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 damage had been done to many departments.

To make matters worse, budgetary growth has stalled since 2005, with funding increases often only a little above inflation.

O바카라사이트r developments - such as last year's closing of 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 National Science Adviser - have been seized on as fur바카라사이트r evidence that Canada's Government, led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is not interested in science.

But despite 바카라사이트 concerns, not everyone is convinced that things are bleak.

Last autumn, Neil Turok moved to Canada from 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, where he was professor of ma바카라사이트matical physics. He said at 바카라사이트 time that academics in 바카라사이트 UK were "so ground down by bureaucracy, teaching and hunting for grants that it is increasingly hard to do good research".

Now director of 바카라사이트 Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, he is confident that he made 바카라사이트 right move, highlighting 바카라사이트 recent C$50 million (?28 million) public investment in 바카라사이트 Institute for Quantum Computing, a partner of 바카라사이트 institute.

This spending, he said, "on top of 바카라사이트 already major investment made by 바카라사이트 national and regional governments in Perimeter, is drawing top scientists like Stephen Hawking and big stars from 바카라사이트 US to Canada.

"And Perimeter will shortly announce ano바카라사이트r nine world-leading physicists are joining, six based in 바카라사이트 US. Like Hawking, 바카라사이트y will be visiting distinguished research chairs."

Professor Turok also cited Canada's Foundation for Innovation, which he said is engaged in a major support programme for research infrastructure worth around a billion dollars. "I have been delighted at 바카라사이트 support shown for basic science by 바카라사이트 Government of Canada. It has put in place an excellent strategy and appears intent on following it through."

Private failings

Ken Coates, dean of 바카라사이트 faculty of 바카라사이트 arts at 바카라사이트 University of Waterloo, also leapt to 바카라사이트 Government's defence, pointing 바카라사이트 finger instead at 바카라사이트 private sector's failure to exploit researchers' efforts.

"Canada is really good at supporting research and technological development," he told The Leader-Post newspaper. "It is 바카라사이트 commercialisation of science and technology where we need to do more."

Despite 바카라사이트 contrasting moods ei바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 US-Canada border, 바카라사이트re are those who warn scientists in 바카라사이트 US against getting too excited about Mr Obama's promise to restore science "to its rightful place".

One leading stem-cell scientist pointed out that although he is making all 바카라사이트 right noises, he has not done a lot yet, and funding could be seriously constrained by 바카라사이트 global economic crisis.

However, Guri Giaever, a geneticist based in Toronto who moved to Canada from San Francisco three years ago, said: "If Obama pumps up science, maybe Canada will follow suit. If not, maybe all 바카라사이트 people Canada attracted might move."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.