SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC)
APRIL 3RD, 2017 - 9:00 a.m.
PIPSC NATIONAL OFFICE
Members in attendance:
Jean Bérubé SAC President, NRcan
Michael A. Forbes SAC member, Retired, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Karen Hall SAC member, Transport Canada
Philip A. Blagden Friend of the Committee, Health Canada
Norma Domey SAC Member, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre
Robert MacDonald Board Liaison, Transport Canada
Teleconference:
Richard Winder – SAC member, NRCan
Susan O`Donnell - SAC member, National Research Council
Staff resource: Maxime Gingras, PIPSC Research Officer
Also present:
Catherine Wright, Labour Relations Associate
Michael Urminsky, PIPSC Research Lead
1. Call to Order - Chair
- A round table introduction happened to guide the new members as to who is sitting on the committee.
- Meeting called to order at 9:10 AM.
2. Purpose of SAC - .Chair/ Rob
- According to its mandate, SAC is to inform and provide advice to the BOD on issues related to Public Science matters.
- Jean and Rob gave an introduction and description to all members of the importance of SAC.
3. Roles & Responsibilities of SAC members / Presenting at Stewart Councils - Rob
- A policy on committee’s of the Board exists. Mainly, it is about participation.
4. Discussion on Agenda - All
- No further discussion was held on the agenda.
5. Adoption of Agenda - Chair
- Agenda adopted as is.
6. Approval of minutes of previous meeting - All
- Modifications were provided by a member. Subsequently, minutes were approved as is;
NEW (AI) Max to modify and get minutes translated and posted on the PIPSC website.
7. Business arising from previous meeting - All
PREVIOUS (AI) - CSPC SAC delegation members to contact key participants they met and continue building the relationship.
- The committee members could put together key talking points to re-launch the conversation with those key participants. Could take the form of an invitation for the next CSPC.
PREVIOUS (AI) - Max to ask communications to craft a sum up of PIPSC’s CSPC participation and send it to ADM’s at the Integration Board. Deadline should be before Christmas. And for posting on website.
- PIPSC got caught up in bargaining and ensuing various communications initiative, ultimately this item fell through. Could still be achieved in double statement about upcoming CSPC deadline / report to the board;
NEW (AI) – A double statement on CSPC deadline and report to the Board on past CSPC efforts could be issued.
PREVIOUS (AI) - Figure out a date in the Spring post-budget to hold a Science Lobby Day on Parliament Hill.
- With many Science initiatives coming down the pipe for PIPSC, a Science Lobby Day on Parliament Hill is not going to go forward this Spring.
- Could be deferred to the Fall with a timely release of a new Science report.
PREVIOUS (AI) – RE GROUP AGENDA will contain a discussion on Conference denial and ways to gather further information. RE Group to refer back to SAC email list.
- Jean will get back to the committee, currently being processed by SAC Chair.
PREVOUS (AI) – Michael will craft final copy of work plan and present to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
- Meetings with the COO have happened. Michael reported back to the committee on such meetings.
8. New Business
a) Board approved Science Strategic Plan reminder - Michael / Rob
- This is three-year plan looking at key activities and projects steering PIPSC’s Science priorities over time.
- Michael and Robert presented the plan to current and new members as a reminder of such activities and the importance of sticking to said plan;
- The strategy intends to implement Science Integrity policies in Government and rebuild Science Capacity.
b) Presentation of science projects from science strategic plan - Michael / Max
- A presentation was given by Michael regarding each project within the Science Strategic Plan;
- Stemming out of these activities will be a new survey report in follow-up to the Big Chill.
- SAC’s role for each project:
1. Science Membership Survey
SAC role: Promotion of the survey to ensure and support good turnout, SAC would also like to get a presentation of the results.
2. Departmental Science Integrity Teams Working on SI Policies with Departments and TBS
SAC role: Monitoring SI and reporting to the Board. Individual members can be on the Science Advisory Group. SAC members can get involved individually at a departmental level. SAC will keep getting updates and will be reporting on progress.
3. Women in Science:
SAC role: Members who want to get involved will communicate with Susan O’Donnell and Karen Halll. SAC will. be leading this activity with support from staff resource / activity coordinator Catherine.
4. Conference Attendance Initiative
SAC roles: Monitoring role and reporting to the Board.
5. State of Government Science Monitoring
SAC role: Monitoring & providing feedback on project.
6. Government & External Relations Strategy
SAC role: deferred to Emily Watkins.
c) March for Science event - Emily / Michael
- There are 18 marches across Canada happening on April22nd. PIPSC is looking to link activists with members in order to get them to participate in the march.
- In Ottawa, we are organizing a march with E4D for a walk on Parliament Hill.
- There was also talk about PIPSC sending a delegation to the Science March in Washington.
- The committee discussed PIPSC participating in those marches and perhaps not only showing solidarity with US scientists, but also using this initiative to channel our core science messages.
d) CSPC participation & panel submission deadline - Max / All
- E4D has proposed to collaborate with PIPSC on a panel submission on Scientific Integrity.
- The goal in getting a panel would be to promote Scientific Integrity and the use of collaboration through SI policies in bringing new scientific knowledge and pushing forward on evidence decision making.
NEW (AI) – Max to submit draft proposal to the group and E4D and submit to CSPC by April 7th.
e) Flesh out Government & External Relations Project - Emily Watkins
- The committee went through the draft plan from Emily for a Public Science Lobby day from PIPSC on Parliament Hill.
- This lobbying effort will be set for mid-October, after Thanksgiving.
- The committee agrees that all lobbying efforts will need to be accompanied by a new report or early results from the science survey.
- Committee members expressed concerns about the way Public Science money is being spent. The focus of the spending appears to be on infrastructure as opposed to science jobs within departments.
NEW (AI) – Emily and Communications to craft a one-pager to bring back to SAC on June 23rd Government & External Relations Project in order to set clear objectives.
7. Round Table - All
- NRC has a new president and the RO/RCO community is looking forward to the new orientation being proposed by management.
- Members also discussed the specter of automation coming into white collar science jobs.
- The National Wildlife Centre has also undergone a major reorganization.
- The SP community impacted by the Navigation Protection Act, the Canadian Protection Assessment Act and the Ocean Protection Plan.
- 1HR has also been flagged by committee members as an area of concern SAC should keep an eye on.
NEW (AI) – Michael to put budget science money announcements to working group on consultation to follow-up on and seek greater clarity on its spending.
8. Date of next meeting - All
- June 23rd 2017.
9. List of Action Items - All
NEW (AI) Max to modify and get minutes translated and posted on the PIPSC website.
NEW (AI) – A double statement on CSPC deadline and report to the Board on past CSPC efforts will be issued.
NEW (AI) – Susan will be inviting Karen, Norma and Heidi to participate in further Women in Science activities.
NEW (AI) – Max to submit draft proposal to the group, as well as E4D, submit to CSPC by April 7th.
NEW (AI) – Emily and communications to craft a one-pager to bring back to SAC on Government & External Relations Project in order to set clear objectives.
NEW (AI) – Michael to put forward budget science money announcements to working group on consultation to follow-up on and seek greater clarity on its spending.
10. Closing comments & Adjournment - Chair
- Meeting adjourned 3:50 PM.
Notes:
1) SAC webpage