Exceptional Contribution to Science Policy Award

As an enabler in science policy, CSPC has always strived to recognize the contributions of individuals to this field, at different stages of their lives and professional careers and in various fields.

With that in mind, in 2019, CSPC established a new category of awards for Exceptional Contribution to Science Policy. This award recognizes the work of individuals who have worked in science policy over a period of many years and made a deep impact in Canadian science policy.

The first awardee of the Exceptional Contribution to Science Policy category was Mr. Paul Dufour, a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Science, Society, & Policy at the University of Ottawa and the Principal of PaulicyWorks. Mr. Dufour was recognized for his exceptional lifelong contributions to science policy. With decades of experience as a public servant in various departments, he has written extensively, both opinion pieces and analyses on the status of science policy in Canada. He has also mentored numerous young individuals who entered science policy and has been instrumental in the growth of CSPC from its early years.

Born in Montreal, Mr. Dufour was educated at McGill University, Université de Montreal, and Concordia University; in the history of science and science policy and has had practical science & technology (S&T) policy experience for over three decades.

Over the course of the past 35 years, Mr. Dufour has served as a senior adviser in science policy with several Canadian agencies and organizations. He has served as a senior program specialist with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and interim Executive Director at the former Office of the National Science Advisor to the Canadian Government; advising on international S&T policies. Mr. Dufour is a member of the Science and Policy Exchange board, the Mitacs Science Policy Fellows advisory board, and was on the Gold Medal winning Canadian International Polar Year National Committee. He has also served as an investment committee member for Grand Challenges Canada on global health, for several years.

Mr. Dufour lectures regularly on science policy at national and international forums and has authored numerous articles on international S&T relations and Canadian innovation policy. He is the series co-editor of the Cartermill Guides to World Science and is the author of the Canada chapter for the UNESCO 2015 Science Report. More recently he has co-edited books on the history of the Science Council of Canada and the value of science in society and culture; and is authoring the Canada chapter for UNESCO’s forthcoming 2020 science report.