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The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) are pleased to announce the fifth edition of the Science Meets Parliament Program. The applications are now being accepted for the program and the program is scheduled to take place in Ottawa May 11-13, 2025, subject to Parliament being in session. In the event of an election, the timing of the program may be delayed. Please see program details below.

The deadline for applying had passed.

Disclaimer: In the event of an election, the timing of the program may be delayed.

CSPC and OCSA are pleased to present the 2025 edition of Science Meets Parliament (SMP) to continue to strengthen the connection between the science and policy communities. This program provides an excellent opportunity for researchers to learn about the inclusion of scientific evidence in policymaking in Parliament.

This year marks the fifth Science Meets Parliament program since its inauguration in 2018. During these events, more than 150 emerging leaders of the scientific community from across Canada were brought to the Canadian Parliament for extensive meetings with Parliamentarians, and attendance at the House and Senate standing committees. Scientists were able to learn first-hand about Parliamentary work, and the role of science in policymaking, and discuss their research with Parliamentarians.

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The program has been a great success, receiving positive feedback from Science Meets Parliament delegates and participating Parliamentarians:

Here is what delegates had to say:

“I feel that yesterday was the most productive day of my career towards that goal. I met decision makers who share similar goals and appear to be willing to work with me to achieve something real.”
– Delegate, 2024

“My ability to connect with parliamentarians and policymakers and move my research into policy channels has never before felt so possible.”
– Delegate, 2018

“So important to be reminded of the great science happening here in Canada and the necessity to support and grow this enterprise”
– Parliamentarian, 2022

“The meetings are worthwhile opportunities for MP’s to get a better sense of the scope and depth of research being done in Canada, how we collaborate internationally and both the value and limitations of science in policymaking.”
– Parliamentarian, 2023

ABOUT SCIENCE MEETS PARLIAMENT

The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the connections between Canada’s scientific and political communities, enable a two-way dialogue, and promote mutual understanding. This initiative aims to help early career scientists in particular to become familiar with policymaking at the political level, and for parliamentarians to explore using scientific evidence in policymaking. This initiative is not meant to be an advocacy exercise, and will not include any discussion of science funding or other forms of advocacy.

The Science Meets Parliament model is adapted from the successful Australian program held annually since 1999. Similar initiatives exist in the EU, the UK and Spain.

CSPC’s program aims to benefit the parliamentarians, the scientific community and, indirectly, the Canadian public.

Science Meets Parliament 2024
Orientation video

Benefits to Parliamentarians

  • Engage with emerging leaders in the science community that drive science and innovation
  • Learn from scientists about resources in Canadian research institutions available to parliamentarians
  • Receive direct answers to questions they may have on scientific matters or background issues
  • Discuss how training highly qualified personnel (HQP) in their research laboratories contributes to the local and national economies
  • Build lasting connections with scientists from diverse regions and specialties

Benefits to Scientists

  • Learn about the legislative and political processes and the reality of being a parliamentarian
  • Understand how their research can be useful to parliamentarians to maximize its impact
  • Gain insights about how to effectively communicate research to parliamentarians
  • Connect with other top researchers advancing science, engineering, social sciences and humanities across Canada
  • Build lasting connections with Parliamentarians and their staff

Benefits to Canadians

  • Bring together and encourage mutual understanding between scientists and parliamentarians
  • Foster a conversation about locally relevant issues using scientific evidence
  • Educate the scientific community on how to better engage with parliamentarians, thereby enhancing the use of science for the public good
  • Promote equity and diversity in science and amplify a range of voices from across Canada

The program will be available to three groups of researchers:

  • Researchers who currently hold a Tier II Canada Research Chair position and are affiliated with a post-secondary institution in Canada (Tier II Canada Research Chair status must be announced by November 8, 2024).
  • Researchers from the following underrepresented communities holding a full-time independent investigator position at a post-secondary institution in Canada:
    • Indigenous researchers;
    • Black researchers; and/or
    • Researchers affiliated with a post-secondary institution in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, or Nunavut (for up to 10 years, excluding eligible leave, from their initial appointment)
  • Postdoctoral fellows who currently hold a CIHR / NSERC / SSHRC Tri-agency Postdoctoral Fellowship and are affiliated with a post-secondary institution in Canada (Postdoctoral Fellowship status must be announced by November 8, 2024).

Former Science Meets Parliament delegates (federal or provincial) are excluded from the application.

About 40-50 researchers from a diverse range of disciplines will be invited to participate in Science Meets Parliament 2025. In future iterations of this program, we hope to expand the application process further to include researchers from more career stages.

A multi-disciplinary committee will oversee the application and selection process, during which the diversity of disciplines, geography, and identities will be considered.

The application deadline has been extended to December 6, 2024.

You can apply for all Science Meets Parliament programs that you are eligible for (e.g., federal and BC or federal and ON) – if selected for both, you will be able to decide which program you would like to participate in.

The program consists of several Virtual Zoom sessions, as well as two days (and one evening) in-person in Ottawa, which is currently tentatively scheduled for May 11-13, 2025. To participate in the program, you must attend all scheduled events, including all virtual workshops and the in-person Day on the Hill.

The Science Meets Parliament 2025 program will include:

  • An orientation session that includes information about the business of Parliament and exercises that prepare delegates to speak with politicians
  • Virtual workshops on evidence-based decision-making, science communication and media, equity and diversity, policymaking in Parliament, and policymaking in bureaucracy
  • Meetings with members of Parliament, senators, staff members, as well as the Chief Science Advisor of Canada
  • Observation of House and/or Senate committee meetings
  • Attending Question Period in Parliament
  • Networking reception with MPs, senators, and staff
  • Meetings with bureaucrats and public servants, to better understand policymaking at the non-political level of government
  • January-April, 2025: Virtual (Zoom) training sessions

Tentative dates of in-person events in Ottawa:

  • May 11 (evening): Networking dinner
  • May 12 (full day): Science communication, meeting with Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, panel discussions, official group dinner
  • May 13 (full day): Day on the Hill and meeting with Parliamentarians, evening reception

Deferral of the program:

In the case of a federal election or events outside of our control (such as a pandemic), the program will be deferred to May 2026.

  1. Registration fee: Accepted delegates will be required to pay a registration fee of $1200 (Canada Research Chairs) or $800 (Postdoctoral Fellows), which includes admission to the program, breakfast and lunch for May 12-13, dinner for May 11-12, and an evening networking reception on May 13. All delegates will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
  2. Scientists who attend this session are required to share their experience and insights from the SMP program through a lecture at their host institution and/or an editorial in a CSPC-featured editorial series or the OCSA website.

Delegates are highly encouraged to publish about their experience in academic or news publications. Participants are also encouraged to publish pieces in other media on their research to engage the general public.

For more information, please contact sciencemeetsparliament@sciencepolicy.ca

Annual Report of the Chief Science Advisor (2023)

Annual Report of the Chief Science Advisor (2018), Science Meets Parliament, page 27

Politicians and scientists need strong connections during the coronavirus crisis — and beyond (2020) The Conversation Canada

De l’importance des relations entre politiciens et scientifiques (2020) La Conversation Canada

Canadian Science Policy Centre Strategic Plan

CSPC Professional Workshops Program

Building Better Bantings: Connecting Canada’s Postdoctoral Fellows is critical for Canada’s scientific future
(2023)

Zhao J. et al., Canadian Science Meets Parliament: Building relationships between scientists and policymakers
(2020) Science and Public Policy

Evidence in Action Report. An analysis of information gathering and use by Canadian Parliamentarians.
(2019), Evidence for Democracy

Do we have enough scientists in Parliament?
(2019) iPolitics – Op ed

Politicians and scientists need strong connections during the coronavirus crisis — and beyond
(2020) The Conversation

De l’importance des relations entre politiciens et scientifiques
(2020) The Conversation

If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at sciencemeetsparliament@sciencepolicy.ca