Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Barney, I'm very intrigued by the notion of an increased level of citizen engagement on issues of science, particularly around young people. I think all political parties would agree it's tough to engage citizens between the ages of 18 and 30. Voter turnout rates within this group are lower every election. They also represent one of the most educated and informed generations in the history of the country. They are interested in issues, but not interested in politics, by and large, and see other ways to make a difference. I think it's a critical question, not just on science issues, but more broadly. If we engage them in discussions on science, we may be able to earn their support at the political level for investment in science. I think you're onto something.
Have you looked at what Don Tapscott and others have worked on in the whole wiki-based, open-platform technological approach where you're taking a vehicle and a community within which young people live--the web? We go to the web to do research sometimes, but we live in meetings. They live on the web and periodically go to meetings. Have you explored the notion and premise of wikinomics and others as a vehicle?
You talked quite a bit about institutions and an institutional approach to this. I think when we start talking about institutionalizing this, their eyes glaze over. I think there may be a more direct technologically based approach that even by the nature of how we do it would be innovative.
I'd like to get your feedback on that and whether some country or organization is doing a good job of harnessing technology as a vehicle to engage this vital generation in these vital debates.