Evidence of meeting #75 for Science and Research in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was office.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
You also mentioned being proactive and how transparency is probably our greatest principle to help us address disinformation. You mentioned involving the public, I think, in response to my earlier question about vaccine hesitancy.
How do we be proactive in encouraging the uptake of critical thinking skills? It seems like we need a national campaign of some sort to combat disinformation. Would you agree with that, and what would that look like if you do agree?
12:50 p.m.
Chief Science Advisor, Office of the Chief Science Advisor
I very much agree.
Earlier, I wanted to mention science literacy. I didn't get a chance to do that. I think that's something that we, collectively, can do. It's something that is in the best interest of the country and the population. It empowers them to make decisions for themselves and to be able to tell what is real and what is not. That, of course, impacts so many decisions in their lives.
I think citizen science is also a very good way of encouraging understanding of what science is and is not, and also of instilling confidence in the public in terms of data collection and the data that is being used to justify certain actions.
I think we can work on many fronts on this.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lloyd Longfield
Thank you. You're right at time.
I want to sneak in a question on polytechnics in applied science, if you might comment.
We've talked a lot about universities. Do polytechnics play a role in your office?
12:55 p.m.
Chief Science Advisor, Office of the Chief Science Advisor
Anyone doing research and science is more than welcome. We've engaged with polytechnics and with the colleges and universities.
I would just like to say that sometimes we have too much focus on fundamental research versus applied research. I think that we need to remember what the definition of applied research is: Applied research is research aimed at a question. In this sense, any engineering question, any sociology question, any health science question also fits under applied research.
12:55 p.m.
Chief Science Advisor, Office of the Chief Science Advisor
I think in this country we need to be supportive of all kinds of research.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lloyd Longfield
Thank you very much, and thank you for being with us. The time went really quickly.
Thanks to the members for your excellent participation and questions and thoughtfulness.
We will be meeting again on Thursday to look at version two of the report on impacts of pay gaps at Canadian universities. There's been a little bit of a delay on getting that report to you. I apologize. We should have it back from translation in a PDF format to get to you early this afternoon.
Shall we adjourn?
Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.