The Canadian Council of Academies (CCA) announced the establishment of a new expert panel today, designed to support the federal government on issues related to research infrastructure.
“Canada’s research infrastructure is essential to the future of science and innovation, economic prosperity, and well-being throughout the country. At the request of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada, the CCA has formed an expert panel to support the federal government in optimizing Canada’s research infrastructure – from its national-scale scientific facilities to its digital platforms and collaborative networks – through evidence synthesis and strategic insights,” the CCA wrote in a press release this morning.
Marcela Carena, Executive Director at Perimeter Institute, will serve as one of 12 expert panellists. She joins an illustrious group, including university leaders, research institute directors, and scientific and data experts from across Canada and beyond. The panel will be chaired by Janet King, Chair of Polar Knowledge Canada’s Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the Canadian Light Source’s Board of Directors.
“I am honoured to work with such distinguished colleagues to tackle an issue that is so vital to the future of Canada’s science and innovation ecosystem,” said Carena.
Together, the panellists will answer the following question:
How can Canada optimize its national-scale research infrastructure, encompassing large-scale facilities, digital platforms, and collaborative networks, to effectively support current and future needs?
The expert panel is part of an assessment supported by the government of Canada through the Strategic Science Fund to “evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Canada’s current research infrastructure portfolio, best practices in infrastructure planning and development, and the strategic factors that might support responses to future challenges and opportunities,” according to the CCA.
The panel on enhancing Canada’s national research infrastructure includes the following members:
- Janet King (chair) Chair, Board of Directors, Polar Knowledge Canada; Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, Canadian Light Source (Ottawa, ON)
- Andrew Applejohn, Executive Director, Programs, Polar Knowledge Canada (Yellowknife, NT)
- Frédéric Bouchard, C.Q., FRSC, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Montréal(Montréal, QC)
- Marcela Carena, Executive Director, Perimeter Institute (Waterloo, ON)
- Jodi Cooley, Executive Director, SNOLAB; Professor of Physics, Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy, Queen’s University (Lively, ON)
- Kathryn Graham, FCAHS, Professor of Research Impact Assessment, University of Calgary(Calgary, AB)
- Janet E. Halliwell, FRSC, Principal, J.E. Halliwell Associates Inc. (Salt Spring Island, BC)
- Natalie Harrower, Executive Director, Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN); McMaster University (Hamilton, ON)
- Gwen Phillips, Governance Strategist, Ktunaxa Nation, BC Data Champion (Ktunaxa Nation, BC)
- Eric Siegel, Chief Innovation Officer, Ocean Frontier Institute, Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS)
- Guillame St-Onge, Director, Institut des sciences de la mer – Université du Québec à Rimouski; Tier I Canada Research Chair in Marine Geology (Rimouski, Québec)
- John Womersley, Special Advisor, University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, United Kingdom)
About PI
Perimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement.
