Wendy Watson-Wright to Chair New CCA Project on Science and Technology Infrastructure Investments

The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) is pleased to announce that it has been asked by Public Services and Procurement Canada to examine what is known about leading practices for evaluating proposals for science and technology (S&T) infrastructure investments. Wendy Watson-Wright, Chief Executive Officer of the Ocean Frontier Institute, will serve as Chair of the Expert Panel.

In Budget 2018, the federal government committed $2.8 billion to renew its science laboratories through an infrastructure initiative. One of the goals of the initiative is to support the construction of multi‐purpose facilities that bring together federal scientists from across different departments to pursue collaborative science. Through this initiative, the government will consider how current federal S&T infrastructure and new investments can be used to better position Canadian federal science to overcome barriers to collaboration, and be more adaptive and efficient. The CCA has been asked to assess processes and advisory structures used for making S&T infrastructure investments, as well as related principles and criteria for deciding on investment opportunities.

The Expert Panel:

Wendy Watson-Wright (Chair), Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Frontier Institute; Axel Guenther, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto; Jennifer MacLean, Director, Collaboration, NGen – Next Generation Manufacturing Canada; John Womersley, Director General, European Spallation Source.

QUOTES

“I’m excited to be taking on this project with the CCA in the role of Chair. I look forward to working with the Panel to assess leading processes and practices and how these may inform the evaluation of S&T infrastructure investments in support of more collaborative and adaptive federal science.”

– Wendy Watson-Wright, CEO, Ocean Frontier Institute

“We are delighted that Wendy Watson-Wright has agreed to chair this Expert Panel. We anticipate the Panel’s insights into leading practices for evaluating these types of proposals for federal science will help to advance interdisciplinary research on a range of pressing issues facing Canada.”

– Eric M. Meslin, PhD, FCAHS, President and CEO, Council of Canadian Academies

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The final report will be released in 2019. More information about this project and the complete charge, can be found here.

Contact

Kelly Loverock
Website and Communications Specialist
Council of Canadian Academies
613.567.5000 x 266
kelly.loverock@scienceadvice