Second, visitors to our website will notice that the CSPC is not only building an online community, but also capturing the most important stories about science and technology in Canada. In March, we invited leaders in our community to comment on science and innovation in the 2010 Federal Budget. Again CSPC is reaching out to science policy stakeholders to help us discuss the role that science and technology can have in this month's G8 and G20 summits. Please, lend us your expertise on this hot topic issue so we can raise the profile of science, technology and innovation in Canada. Your opinion pieces will be a main attraction of our website.

Third, I would like to use this opportunity to acknowledge the tireless work of our young group of volunteers, and their determination to increase the awareness of science policy issues in Canada. CSPC has generated a wealth of enthusiasm and excitement within the science policy community. We are eager to sustain this momentum but will be unable to do so without significant financial support from scientific and professional organizations. Please join our collective efforts in building a robust science policy network in Canada by becoming a sponsor of CSPC.

I look forward to seeing you in October 2010 in Montreal!

Sincerely,
Mehrdad Hariri
Chair, Organizing Committee
2010 Canadian Science Policy Conference
mehrdad.hariri@sciencepolicy.ca

The CSPC editorial subcommittee is charged with helping to inform stakeholders in the Canadian science policy arena about issues of the day. In addition, we aim to generate and maintain discussions in between conferences, and provide an informed lead-in for the conference. To that end, we're ramping up our efforts by taking up one issue per month and inviting experts to provide opinion pieces on the topic.

For our July issue, we would like to draw attention to the upcoming G8 (June 25-26) and G20 (June 26-27) Summits. We would like to invite you to submit opinion pieces as a means of presenting issues of importance to policy-makers, the scientific community and the Canadian public. The deadline for submission is Monday June 28.

Please submit your articles at http://sciencepolicy.ca/g8g20

The pieces should be approximately 500-1000 words in length. All the selected pieces will be featured in the CSPC newsletter, which is distributed to over 700 government officials, policymakers, scientists and industry advocates from all across Canada. They will also be displayed on the front page of our sciencepolicy.ca website on a rolling basis.

We look forward to featuring your insightful perspectives!

CSPC Editorial Team
editor@sciencepolicy.ca

Increasing the Productivity of Canada's Economy using Science and Technology:

• Universities as Economic Powerhouses: Industry-Academic Collaborations
• Encouraging Investment in Science and Innovation
• Science and Technology as Agents of Economic Recovery

Global Perspectives on Science and Technology:

• Canada's Role in Science Diplomacy - Applying Science to International Challenges
• Global Research Infrastructures, Research Collaboratories, and Network-Enabled Science
• Advancing Science and Fostering Innovation through International Cooperation

Creating and Retaining Scientific Talent in Canada:

• Educating Socially Engaged Scientists and Engineers
• WORKSHOP: The Making of a Science Entrepreneur
• WORKSHOP: Human Capital Planning

Major Issues in Canadian Science Policy:

• Arctic and Northern Science Policy: Canadian Responsibilities
• Federal-Provincial-Municipal Governments: Where is the science policy nexus?
• Science Policy in a Diverse Society: Canadian Challenges, Canadian Solutions
• WORKSHOP: Knowledge Brokering and Knowledge Translation

A Glance at BioScience in Canada:

• Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industry: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Options
• Biodiversity: Are Existing Policies Adapting to Current Challenges?
• Bioenergy as an Emerging Field: Is it the Coming Revolution in Energy Production?

The Canadian Science Policy Center was initiated in 2009 by a group of young and enthusiastic researchers, and has since received a groundswell of support from prominent members of the science community. Dr. Marcius Extavour is a prime example of one of these scientists currently serving on the organizing committee for the 2010 Canadian Science Policy Conference in Montreal, Quebec. Having long been interested in the roles and responsibilities of scientists in public policy discussions, Marcius brings his experience in academic science, industrial research and development, and power sector risk analysis to CSPC.

Marcius’ work in academia, private industry, and the public sector has given him an appreciation for the contrasting styles and goals of basic and applied research in academic and industrial laboratories. As an undergraduate student, Marcius worked on materials development for optical telecommunications lasers at Nortel Networks Inc. in Ottawa. His doctoral work in physics was carried out at the University of Toronto, where he explo#174165 quantum mechanical dynamics of ultra-cold atomic gases. His current role as a Risk Analyst at Ontario Power Generation Inc. has exposed him to the regional and international dynamics of science-related policy and regulation across North America, sharpening his interest in science-informed public policy.

Sponso#174165 jointly by the Optical Society of America and SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, Marcius has recently accepted an Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Science and Technology Fellowship. This is a unique opportunity for physicists, optical scientists, and engineers to join in the policymaking process on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. as a special legislative assistant to U.S. Congress. In his new role, Marcius will address current and future science policy challenges in American, North American, and global contexts. We are fortunate to have Marcius on board the CSPC team, and wish him well in Washington!