Person: Paul Dufour

Former adviser to White House Office of S&T Policy to speak at Univ Ottawa

April 5 in Ottawa: Bromley Memorial Lecture featuring Kei Koizumi, former Assistant Director for Federal R&D and senior advisor to the director of the National Science and Technology Council, US White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Koizumi is currently a visiting scholar in science policy at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The…

Paul Dufour, fellow and adjunct professor, University of Ottawa

What’s fundamental about a fundamental science review?
By Paul Dufour

“We suggest that government funding of basic research should emphasize quality rather than quantity, that the social sciences, multidisciplinary efforts, and projects relevant to Canadian needs should get higher priority, and that the peer system should be improved.

Paul Dufour, fellow and adjunct professor, ISSP, University of Ottawa

Finding common ground — A revitalized agenda for scientists and politicians
By Paul Dufour

There’s a sunnier disposition among Canada’s science community these days. Maybe it’s because they have read the Liberal Party platform which states: “We will value science and treat scientists with respect”.

Paul Dufour, fellow and adjunct professor, Univ of Ottawa

Legacy of Lamontagne and lessons for today
By Paul Dufour

The recent announcement of the Governor General’s Innovation Awards by David Johnston (Canada’s de facto science ambassador and de jure science cheerleader) has brought to mind an earlier proposal put forward by another statesman of science and public policy — Maurice Lamontagne.

Paul Dufour, adjunct professor and fellow, University of Ottawa.

Boutique science diplomacy
By Paul Dufour

There you have it. Two speeches on science in Washington in the same week (see box on right) — one by the US President (his second to the National Academy of Sciences celebrating their 150 anniversary) and the other by Canada’s junior minister for science and technology (his second to the AAAS forum on S&T policy).

Paul Dufour, adjunct professor and fellow, ISSP, University of Ottawa

A new future for the research councils?
By Paul Dufour

Ever wonder why Canada has three separate federal granting councils when integration and interdisciplinarity are the new research paradigms? Curious as to why Canadians do not have a single portal or concierge service for understanding how and why research grants are awarded across the country? Have some questions about whether granting councils are strategically addressing the issues of competition and collaboration in science and innovation? Read on.

Dr Kate Moran

Dr Kate Moran has been appointed director of Neptune Canada, the world’s first regional-scale underwater ocean observatory network, effective this September. Moran recently held a two-year term as assistant director in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in Washington DC, advising the government on oceans, the Arctic and global warming. She holds…