Inkless Wells

Paul Wells on all the latest out of Ottawa—along with the occasional post about jazz. Follow Paul on Twitter: @InklessPW
He also offers his thoughtful perspective of Stephen Harper’s last 10 years in his recent eBook, The Harper Decade.

Categories: Capital Read, Inkless Wells

Great minds don't think alike

by Paul Wells on Monday, March 16, 2009 12:12am - 6 Comments

I’ll be scooting out to the Château Laurier tomorrow after work to watch the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada hand out its most prestigious prizes. Stephen Harper and Gary Goodyear will be there too, and while politics may make an appearance as a result, my hunch is that all concerned are hoping the focus will stay on science. I know I spend so much time writing about research policy I sometimes neglect to write about research itself. So I very much enjoyed taking some time tonight to learn about the nominees (one, two, three of them) for the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal and the recipients of the E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships (Two from McGill, two from UofT, one each from Calgary and Queen’s). Reading about their records and their ambitions, I learned that Ingrid Johnsrude, one of the Steacie recipients, once studied with Brenda Milner, who will be hard to beat for the Herzberg; and that Peter Tieleman, another Steacie winner, wrote his master’s thesis on John Buridan before moving to Canada in 2000, part of the brain gain that can accompany good science policy.

I have to admit I had never heard of Gerhard Herzberg, E.W.R. Steacie, Brenda Milner, John Buridan, or attosecond molecular filming before I started cramming for tommorow’s event. I encourage anyone who’s having a slow Monday to follow some of the links in this post. It’s fascinating stuff.

Tags: they blinded me with science

More by Paul Wells

D

I hope one of the winners of the awards (or hey, a reporter could do this too…) asks Harper why the Conservative government is cutting NSERC’s budget, at a time when he should be increasing the funds available for research and development. I suspect Gary Goodyear will just scream at people since that is one thing he seems to be good at.

Kaplan

This is honestly not a knock against you, Paul, but I do recall the time when reporters and columnists would write about the research, instead of providing links and asking us to fill in the blanks. If the research is really as fascinating as you say it is, show us, don’t tell us, as I believe the old editor’s saying goes. I appreciate the links, but if people wonder why journalism’s in trouble, one of the reasons is stuff like this.

Anyway, given the politics around this issue, I really hope you write about this research for Maclean’s (the magazine), because those links won’t reach all your readers.

Anyway, had to get that off my chest…

David

I have to admit I had never heard of Gerhard Herzberg, E.W.R. Steacie

Someone didn’t go to Carleton.
sinical

Only barely related to this story, but two things that strike me as interesting:

1) comparing Canada’s “economic action plan” website to the US government site on its program (hint: the US site is political; the Canadian site is somewhat, er, a lot more political)

2) the little TV ads from the Government of Canada talking about all the tax breaks we can get have been revised, and now direct viewers to the above-mentioned website, instead of the Canada Revenue Agency site like they used to.
Jim

Let’s hope Harper takes this opportunity to make an actual statement about science in Canada. His government gave the universities what they wanted ($2 billion in infrastructure) but didn’t listen to the scientists who don’t care as much about the buildings they inhabit. Heck, they’d work in a cave if it meant more dollars for actually doing their science. However, from the tepid exchanges and denials from Marc Garneau’s debate on Opposition Day last week, I expect Harper will just repeat how “Canada’s New Government TM” has invested more in science than any previous government. It’s not what you spend, its what you buy with what you spend.
Jim

Also, check out the tricouncil websites. All have been wiped of their individuality. Their logos have been largely replaced by a maple leaf and “consistent look and feel”. About as warm and fuzzy as the crapping seagull.

e.g. http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/193.html