The 'war against science' is nothing new. The first 'bankruptcy of science' debate took place in France at the turn of the 20th century, was fuelled mostly by conservative public intellectuals, and brought evidence up for debate. Is history repeating itself now in Canada? The trend raises important questions: Dr. Stathis Psillos reflected on what were and are the key external and internal criticisms of science and evidence in particular, how are these tied to a particular image of science, and what is needed to defend science and its claim to objectivity and truth.

This event was organized in collaboration with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's Situating Science Strategic Knowledge Cluster.

Dr. Munir Sheikh reflected on how public policy can contribute fully to enhancing our quality of life if it is evidence-based. Professor Sheikh's talk concentrated on examples intended to drive home this point: two examples on the need to do better on developing evidence; two on using evidence appropriately. With respect to the first set of examples, the talk focused on the cancellation of the long form census and estimating the true size of government. Regarding the use of evidence, examples included the design of pollution taxes and policies focused on the middle class.

This event was organized in collaboration with Evidence for Democracy.

This panel discussion with David Willetts (UK Minister of State for Universities and Science), Martyn Poliakoff (Foreign Secretary, Royal Society), and Mary Bownes (University of Edinburgh) examined how science advice to government translates into informing government policy. This included discussing the UK’s Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and how it operates.

This event was presented by the ISSP, the Center for International Policy Studies, and the British High Commission.

Science and Society 2013 aims to connect communities and uncover common goals, competing concerns and the possibility of joint strategies. The conference will have two different yet entwined components: (1) an academic component; and (2) a public component.

Insight and Impact: A contribution from the Council of Canadian Academies. President and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies Elizabeth Dowdeswell (O.C.) discussed the Council, whose mission is to contribute to the shaping of evidence-based public policy that is in the public interest.

Changing Times in Québec: Priorities of the Chief Science Officer with an Emphasis on "La Relève". This talk was delivered by Rémi Quirion, Cheif Scientist of Quebec.

Congratulations and thanks to all Bromley participants for taking part in this year's event! The Bromley Lectures are currently led by Dr. Jonathan Linton (ISSP Core Member and Power Corporation Professor in the Management of Technological Enterprises at the Telfer School of Management).

On November 15 2011, the University of Ottawa was pleased to present the thirteenth annual Frontiers in Research Lectures. Developed in partnership with the University of Ottawa’s Institute for Science, Society and Policy, the theme of the 2011 conference was Our Post-Human Future.

Hosted by the ISSP, this high-level meeting brought together various leaders from the public, private, academic and NGO sectors to discuss the creation of a Canadian node of the International Risk Governance Council.