Science Meets Parliament 2024 (SMP 2024)

The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is pleased to announce the inaugural edition of the Science Meets Parliament Program in Ontario with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Honourable Ted Arnott. The applications are now being accepted for the program and the program is scheduled to take place in Toronto in spring (mid/late March) 2025, with the in-person event taking place over two days (Monday-Tuesday), subject to Parliament being in session. In the event of an election, the timing of the program may be delayed.

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

CSPC is pleased to launch this program for the first time in the spring of 2025 to help strengthen the connection between the science and policy communities in Ontario. The program provides an excellent opportunity for Ontario researchers to learn about the process of policymaking at the provincial Legislative Assembly.

The federal edition of the Science Meets Parliament program has been held four times since 2018, culminating in in-person events at Parliament Hill. SMP then expanded to the provinces, with the first-ever SMP-BC event held in April 2024, bringing over 30 emerging leaders from across BC to the Legislative Assembly for extensive engagements with MLAs. Given the success of SMP-BC, we are pleased to expand our provincial program further with SMP-ON.

ABOUT SCIENCE MEETS PARLIAMENT – Ontario

The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the connections between Canada’s scientific and political communities in Ontario, facilitate a two-way dialogue, and promote mutual understanding. This program is designed to familiarize scientists with the intricacies of policymaking at the provincial political level, and encourage parliamentarians to incorporate scientific evidence into their policy decisions. This initiative is not a lobbying exercise, and Delegates are asked to avoid advocating for science funding or other support for a specific scientific program.

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 political community, the scientific community, and the Canadian public.

Science Meets Parliament 2023
Orientation video

Benefits

Benefits to MPPs

Engage with emerging leaders in the Ontario science community that drive science and innovation
Learn from Ontarioscientists about resources in Canadian research institutions available to MPPss
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 local and provincial innovation and economies
Build lasting connections with Ontario 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 MPPsto maximize its impact
Gain insights about how to effectively communicate research to MPPs
Share insights and experiences from ‘Science Meets Parliament – Ontario with peers and students at respective research institutions.
Build lasting connections with MPPs and their staff

Benefits to Ontarians

Bring together and encourage mutually beneficial engagements between scientists and MPPs
Foster a conversation about relevant issues using scientific evidence
Empower scientists with tools and strategies to better engage with MPPs, strengthening the role of science for the public good
Promote equity and diversity in science and amplify a range of voices from across Ontario

Eligibility

The program will be open to three groups of researchers affiliated with a post-secondary institution in Ontario:

Researchers holding a full-time independent investigator position (for up to 5 years, excluding eligible leave, from their initial appointment)
Indigenous and/or Black researchers holding a full-time independent investigator position
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 application.

About 30 researchers from a diverse range of disciplines are expected to participate in Science Meets Parliament – Ontario in 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 is November 8, 2024.

Program

The program consists of about 6-8 virtual sessions as well as a two day in-person program in Toronto(currently tentatively scheduled for mid March 2025). To participate in the program, you must attend all scheduled events, including all virtual workshops and the in-person meetings at the Queen’s Park Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The Science Meets Parliament – Ontario 2025 program will include:

An orientation session
Virtual workshops on evidence-based decision making, science communication and media, equity and diversity, policymaking in the Legislature, and policymaking in bureaucracy
Meetings with MPPs and staff members
Attending Question Period
Networking reception with MPPs and staff
Meetings with bureaucrats and public servants, to better understand policymaking at the non-political level of government

Mandatory requirements

Registration fee: Accepted delegates will be required to pay a registration fee of $1200 (independent researchers) 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-ON program through a lecture at their host institution and/or an editorial in a CSPC featured editorial series.

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