Science Meets Parliament 2026 (SMP 2026)

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) are pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2026 edition of Science Meets Parliament!

This program is scheduled to take place in Ottawa November 23-24, 2026, subject to Parliament being in session.

CSPC and OCSA are pleased to present the 2026 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 scientists to learn about the inclusion of scientific evidence in policy-making in Parliament.

This year marks the sixth 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 learned firsthand about Parliamentary work and the role of science in policy-making, and discussed their research with Parliamentarians.

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SMP 2025 Delegates

2025 Participant Parliamentarians

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The deadline to apply is May 11, 2026.

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

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

“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

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

Eligibility

The program will be available to five groups of researchers:

Researchers who currently hold a Tier II Canada Research Chair position and are affiliated with a post-secondary institution in Canada (You must have been notified of your Tier II Canada Research Chair status by May 11, 2026).
Researchers from the following underrepresented communities holding a full-time independent investigator position at a post-secondary institution in Canada:
- Indigenous researchers;
- Black researchers;
- Researchers affiliated with a post-secondary institution in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, or Nunavut
- Current members of the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists; and/or
- Research Chairs within the first 10 years (excluding eligible leave) of their initial faculty appointment (e.g., institutional Research Chair, Endowed Research Chair)
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 May 11, 2026).

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

About 40 researchers from a diverse range of disciplines will be invited to participate in Science Meets Parliament 2026. 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 is May 11, 2026.

Program

The program consists of several Virtual Zoom sessions, as well as two days in-person in Ottawa, which is currently tentatively scheduled for November 23 – 24, 2026.

Please note: In order 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 2026 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, policy making in Parliament, and policy making 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 (including a poster session)
Meetings with bureaucrats and public servants, to better understand policy making at the non-political level of government

Mandatory requirements

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, lunch, one dinner, and an evening networking reception. All delegates will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
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 [email protected]