Page 19 - Canadian Geographic

DISCOVERY
DISCOVERY
INTERVIEW

Dr. Mona Nemer

The nation’s new chief science advisor on creating a new Science infrastructure, funding
and attracting talent are among
science strategy and Canada’s potential as a world leader the things Dr. Mona Nemer
will focus on in her new role.
INTERVIEW BY MICHELA ROSANO
F particularly at the intersection of technol- put together a framework where everyone
For the fi rst time in nearly a decade, the
feels comfortable doing science and speak-
federal government has appointed a chief
ogy and society, as well as its legal and
science advisor to help support state sci-
ing about science.
ethical aspects. Clearly, the broad topics of
ence, make it available to the public and
nology and the Arctic are priorities. I think
ensure scientists have a seat at the table environmental sustainability, clean tech- On major science infrastructure
IVY FORTIN (INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CANADA)
when Canada makes important decisions. there’s a need for continued Canadian One of the things I’m hoping we’ll be able to
Dr. Mona Nemer, who is a cardiovascular leadership on these fronts, so we must move on soon is how we manage our large
scientist and the director of the Molecular articulate a science and research plan for science infrastructure. These are unique
Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration them over the next few years. facilities that service groups of researchers,
Laboratory at the University of Ottawa, was who may or may not be physically located
named to the position in September 2017, On scientists speaking freely about their work there. The Polar Environment Atmospheric
and reports to the prime minister and Kirsty The government has committed to collabo- Research Laboratory on Ellesmere Island is a
Duncan, the minister of science. Now, a few rating with scientists to develop guidelines good example of a facility that’s accessible to
months into her new role, Nemer discusses for communicating with the public about researchers from all over the country.
some of her priorities and how Canadian research. I’ll be a part of this process. We’ll Sudbury’s SNOLAB is another. We can’t have
science can do better. start by looking at what’s happening in each a crisis every few years because major sci-
department to really understand some of ence infrastructure somewhere has run out
On identifying top priorities the baselines that need to be put in place. of funds. We need a strategy, a more system-
We’re looking at artifi cial intelligence and I’m quite hopeful that we’re going to make atic approach to these facilities: who pays for
its applications to various sectors, gains on that front and that we’ll be able to them, how we fund them, how often we

CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC 19