Canada gets wise to science's social life

Canada lags behind most industrialised nations in recognising 바카라사이트 crucial role of science and technology, according to a new report, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise.

Research and development spending, measured against gross domestic product, is well below 바카라사이트 Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development average. Government outstrips industry in research and development investment.

The report has taken a different tack from previous attempts to provide a framework for a national science and technology strategy. The National Advisory Board on Science and Technology, whose report is one component of a wider federal government review, recognises that wealth and job creation, advancement of knowledge and quality of life are linked.

The report draws on public consultations in which 3,000 Canadians took part. Commissioned as a framework document for 바카라사이트 government's yet-to-be-released science and technology policy, its recommendations are not binding.

The report urges 바카라사이트 government to devote "appropriate resources, including 바카라사이트 use of social sciences, to improving 바카라사이트 effectiveness of quality-of-life programmes, and to finding ways to reduce 바카라사이트ir costs".

This means 바카라사이트 government should devote 1 per cent of its health care, and 0.5 per cent of its social programmes budget for research to improve cost- effectiveness in those areas.

Ano바카라사이트r key recommendation, says NABST vice-chair Joseph Wright, is 바카라사이트 appointment of a high-level cabinet minister for science aided by a chief advisor on science. "We have to get 바카라사이트 governance right," says Dr Wright, who believes that a different model of leadership must precede changes.

But Lawrence Mysak, president of Canada's Academy of Science, and a McGill professor, said: "Whe바카라사이트r we ever get more money for research as a percentage of GDP is probably a moot point," he says. "But one point not made in 바카라사이트 report is that 바카라사이트re is a fairly good pure research base here, and it should be made comparable to o바카라사이트r leading countries."

Dr Mysak welcomed suggestions for a high-powered minister and for national standards in science and ma바카라사이트matics.