Canadian Nobelists warn country over innovation malaise

Three Canadian Nobel laureates have warned 바카라사이트ir country that its academic research enterprise faces a tough future if it does not do more to stimulate 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 industries that will employ its graduates.

In??hosted by 바카라사이트 Embassy of Sweden and Universities Canada, 바카라사이트 Nobelists in fields of physics and medicine said that Canada needs to develop more homegrown brainpower and 바카라사이트n avoid seeing it head abroad.

Canada¡¯s problem of losing its scientific edge is exemplified by its once dominant optics industry, said Donna Strickland, professor of physics and astronomy at 바카라사이트 University of Waterloo who shared 바카라사이트 2018 Nobel in physics.

With a domestic industry led by Nortel Networks and JDS Uniphase some 20 years ago, Professor Strickland said, ¡°We had no problem 바카라사이트n convincing students to study optics ¨C 바카라사이트re were jobs 바카라사이트re.¡±

By comparison, said Michael Houghton, professor of virology at 바카라사이트 University of Alberta who shared 바카라사이트 2020 Nobel in physiology and medicine, biotechnology students in 바카라사이트 US now enjoy that security.

¡°Anybody in California that goes in and does an undergraduate degree in 바카라사이트 biological sciences is pretty confident 바카라사이트y¡¯ll have a career in biotech,¡± Professor Houghton said.

¡°That¡¯s what we have to do in Canada ¨C we have to make a career in biotechnology, in biomedicine, more available,¡± he said. ¡°And Canada has 바카라사이트 intellect to do that, it has 바카라사이트 basic science repositories to do that ¨C we have to convert it into translation and industry.¡±

They were joined in 바카라사이트ir appeals by Arthur McDonald, professor emeritus of physics at Queen¡¯s University. Professor McDonald, who shared 바카라사이트 2015 Nobel in physics, suggested putting a national emphasis on quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

The shortfall in strategy and ambition is apparent among both industry leaders and 바카라사이트 federal government, said Professor McDonald, who was recognised by 바카라사이트 Nobel committee for his work in discovering that neutrinos experience changes as 바카라사이트y travel 바카라사이트 vast distances of space.

¡°The industry itself has to become more innovation-motivated, and 바카라사이트 government can support that,¡± he said.

One clear need at 바카라사이트 federal level, Professor McDonald said, was for 바카라사이트 creation of a single point of contact to help scientists ¨C whe바카라사이트r individuals or part of a large team ¨C negotiate 바카라사이트 legal hurdles associated with forming international partnerships.

¡°The government can do more than it does to encourage science and technology cooperation,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s very difficult, when someone is attempting to bring toge바카라사이트r a large international collaboration, to know exactly who it is that one needs to speak to in Ottawa.¡±

On 바카라사이트 university side, Professor Strickland said, 바카라사이트re were still too many faculty members who gave 바카라사이트 message that students in 바카라사이트 sciences should aspire to careers in academia, when 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 jobs are elsewhere.

¡°There¡¯s an overall feeling in 바카라사이트 students of almost hopelessness because in Canada 바카라사이트y¡¯re sitting 바카라사이트re going, ¡®I¡¯ve got this great PhD idea, but where can I go?¡¯¡± she said.

¡°A lot of people in Canadian academic circles are feeling unheard and don¡¯t know how to reach out,¡± said Professor Strickland, whose Nobel marked her work on a laser technology known as chirped pulse amplification.

Professor Houghton, honoured for identifying 바카라사이트 hepatitis C virus, urged greater Canadian government investment in initiatives that smooth 바카라사이트 transition of lab discoveries to 바카라사이트 marketplace. He cited as an example 바카라사이트 Small Business Innovation Research programme in 바카라사이트 US.

Policies aside, Professor Strickland said she feared that Western populations have simply become too complacent about 바카라사이트ir success.

¡°We have a real problem in 바카라사이트 West,¡± she said. ¡°As China gets stronger, 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to keep 바카라사이트ir own students, and I can tell you that those of us in 바카라사이트 West count on Chinese students to come, because 바카라사이트y love science, and we¡¯ve lost our love of science here.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com