Science

In the Globe and Mail, U of T's Mark Lautens asks why there aren't more scientists in politics

geoff.vendeville — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 15:01:07 +0000

In the Globe and Mail, U of T's Mark Lautens asks why there aren't more scientists in politics

geoff.vendeville Tue, 11/05/2019 - 10:01

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Mark Lautens, a University Professor in the department of chemistry, says the public would be better served if more scientists were involved in government (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

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In his most recent op-ed for the Globe and Mail, the ��Ƶ’s Mark Lautens asks: Why was science largely absent from the federal election debates? And why don't more scientists run for office in Canada?

Lautens, a University Professor in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, argues “there’s no simple explanation” for the lack of scientists and researchers in politics. He says one possible reason is that Canadian scientists lack the star power of leaders in business, sports or the arts, who are better represented in the corridors of power.

Another explanation, he says, is that it’s near-impossible for scientists to return to their lab and students after a stint in politics.

But political discourse would benefit from having more scientists at the table, according to Lautens. “My view is that if more scientists were key figures in every political party, there would be far less polarization,” he says. “Evidence-based decision-making might take over from half-truths or worse.”

Ottawa names Canadian researcher as new chief science officer

rasbachn — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 14:10:14 +0000

Ottawa names Canadian researcher as new chief science officer

rasbachn Wed, 09/27/2017 - 10:10

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Mona Nemer of the University of Ottawa is Canada's new chief science advisor (photo courtesy of University of Ottawa/Gairdner Foundation)

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Mona Nemer, a University of Ottawa biochemistry professor, has been named Canada’s new chief science officer by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.

The prime minister made the announcement in Ottawa on Tuesday along with federal Science Minister Kirsty Duncan, and Nobel Prize Laureate Arthur McDonald.

“Scientists need to have a voice,” Trudeau said at the news conference. “They need to be able to speak freely about their work because the work they do has the power to change the world . . . Our government is committed to supporting science and Canada’s remarkable scientists.”

Nemer, he said, has been passionate about science since she was one of the first young women to study science at her high school in Lebanon.

“On behalf of my government, I want to welcome her to her new role,” he said to applause.

As chief science advisor, Nemer will report to both the prime minister and the science minister and is tasked with ensuring government science is publicly available, scientists can speak freely and scientific analyses are considered in government decision-making.

Nemer, who is the University of Ottawa’s vice-president of research, is renowned for her work on the molecular mechanisms of heart development and function, particularly in relation to heart failure and congenital heart diseases.

“I’m taking this job to make a difference – and I intend to do so,” she told the news conference.

“We scientists have an important role inside and outside our labs, like in engaging in knowledge exchange and in explaining science to the public, including to youth,” Nemer added. “Let’s all work together to make Canada a global leader in science.”

The news comes as Canada’s research community, including U of T, continues to press the federal government to implement all 35 recommendations made by Canada’s Fundamental Science Review panel, led U of T President Emeritus David Naylor.

Vivek Goel, U of T’s vice-president of research and innovation, congratulated Nemer on her new post. “The ��Ƶ looks forward to working with Professor Nemer as she advises cabinet on how to apply evidence-based research in their decision-making and as the government works on moving forward with the recommendations of the Review of Fundamental Science.”

The creation of the position has been a top priority for Trudeau, who listed it at the top of his mandate letter issued to Duncan when his government assumed power in late 2015.

It also pre-dates the Naylor report issued by Canada’s Fundamental Science Review panel in April. The panel found per capita federal investment in fundamental science has slumped in recent decades and recommended a set of sweeping changes.

Although the government has committed to acting on at least three of the recommendations, it has stopped short of promising to act on all 35, including a $1.3-billion boost in federal research funding over four years.

U of T takes on 'alternative facts' at this year’s Science Literacy Week

Romi Levine — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 04:00:00 +0000

U of T takes on 'alternative facts' at this year’s Science Literacy Week

Romi Levine Thu, 09/21/2017 - 00:00

Romi Levine

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City & Culture

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Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

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Alumnus and event founder Jesse Hildebrand speaks to U of T News

Social media has become the misinformation superhighway. With so many conflicting perspectives being shared online, it’s becoming harder to differentiate hard science from science fiction.

Science Literacy Week – a nationwide event promoting science engagement and education – brings together academic institutions, libraries and organizations to highlight amazing discoveries and fascinating literature while also teaching people how to think critically about the information they come across.

The ��Ƶ is taking on “science in a post-truth era” – featuring talks, exhibitions and interactive events at all three campuses until Sept. 24.

Explore book displays on pseudoscience and controversial topics in engineering, check out Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library’s collection of iconic artifacts, debate the existence of extraterrestrial life, meet real scientific experts at the Human Library, and much more.

For U of T alumnus Jesse Hildebrand, Science Literacy Week started as a personal passion project and became his full-time job.

He founded the week in 2014, “and it snowballed from there,” he says.

From a modest local event, the week has become a Canada-wide celebration, with 720 events from B.C. to Newfoundland.

Now supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Hildebrand works on promoting and showcasing science engagement projects year-round.

U of T News spoke with Hildebrand about this year’s event and why it’s important for the scientific community to tackle fake news.

This year, a lot of the week’s events are addressing fake news. Why do you think it was important to take on that topic?

All the U of T libraries joined together and that was their theme – to do post-truth and fake news. It's really important. There are so many competing sources of information out there now. If you look at libraries across the country, they're making sure people know the right sources of information and how to identify "alternative facts" and make better choices when it comes to figuring out who to trust. Those events help equip students and people generally with the skills necessary to do that.

Does the shift in the way information and misinformation spreads worry you?

I think there's this pervasive pessimism over the last two years and there's good reason for that – there's a lot of things that are worrying to people, but certainly people not trusting their government, government not trusting the news, people not accepting science facts as reality is not something that's new to civilization. This has happened a lot in a lot of places, in Canada and the United States, many times over the last 100 years. I'm sure we'll get back to a better spot very soon.

What can people look forward to this week?

We have a lot of events that would appeal to people who otherwise would never want to go to a science event: live storytelling; stargazing; we're blowing stuff up; there's an anatomy tour where you can go and see actual cadavers; there's an iconic book showcase – the original copies of Newton and Darwin from hundreds of years ago. With those sorts of events, I hope people will take the time to come and check it out.

How would you like to see people engaging with science after Science Literacy Week?

The more we work to get these groups together, do great science events year-round, and showcase that whether you're going on a date, whether you're taking your kid somewhere after school, whatever you're doing, there's some great way to engage with science. The hope is that this serves as a springboard to these groups doing more work year-round and exciting the public 365 days a year.

Toronto Star editorial: Don't let the world pass us by on science

lanthierj — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 14:08:22 +0000

Toronto Star editorial: Don't let the world pass us by on science

lanthierj Wed, 09/13/2017 - 10:08

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U of T President Meric Gertler on science funding: Ottawa has been “trying to get the message out that they can’t do it all at once and I think people are willing to accept that – as long as there’s a multi-year plan” (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

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"Even the slow fix must start somewhere"

��Ƶ students are receiving “among the very best educations available anywhere,” today’s editorial in the Toronto Star says.

But the Star points to a worrying trend in the overall competitiveness of Canada’s post-secondary institutions.

The Star cites the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, which places U of T as the ninth best public university in the world and the top university in Canada as a cause for pride. But the editorial also points out that the same Times Higher Education report says countries like China, Switzerland and Singapore have been investing in science while Canada has been moving “in the opposite direction.”

As U of T President Meric Gertler told the Star's editorial board, the rankings should serve as a reminder for government not only “to appreciate how significant it is to have a top-10 public institution in their midst,” but also to consider “what we have to do to maintain if not improve that position.”

The Star says the Trudeau government already has the answer as to how best to do that – the report by an independent federal panel led by former U of T president David Naylor, which it says offers Ottawa a “sensible roadmap” for investing in science at post-secondary institutions. Among its recommendations: a $485-million infusion for basic scientific research.

Gertler told the editorial board that “there is a startling degree of consensus" between universities in supporting the Naylor report, but they are still “waiting and hoping” for a response from the federal government. (Read about how researchers are supporting the Naylor report.)

Ottawa needs to respond soon, the Star argues. “The last federal budget contained no new science funding, despite the evident and growing cost of underinvestment," the editorial says. “Ottawa shouldn’t repeat that mistake.”

Read the complete Toronto Star editorial

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announces $52.6 million for U of T scientists

rasbachn — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 18:45:00 +0000

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announces $52.6 million for U of T scientists

rasbachn Fri, 09/08/2017 - 14:45

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(From left) Elizabeth Boston of NSERC, Professor Miriam Diamond, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, U of T Vice-President of Research and Innovation Vivek Goel, and U of T President Meric Gertler (photo by Jennifer Robinson)

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Department of Earth Sciences

Naylor Report

Science

The secret contaminants lurking in your home, from the water in the washing machine to the dust bunnies collecting under the bed, are providing an amazing wealth of information for Miriam Diamond, an earth sciences professor at the ��Ƶ.

“We mop up literally what people are exposed to and then we try to find the sources of the chemicals, the pathways by which they move and ultimately human and ecological exposure,” she explained.

These chemicals – like flame retardants and plasticizers from a sofa or computer – have been linked to a number of adverse health effects, including reduced fertility rates, as well as lower IQs and attention deficit disorder-like effects in children. Ultimately, Diamond says the purpose of her research is to find ways to lessen the exposure of Canadian households to these chemicals.

Today she is one of almost 350 researchers at the ��Ƶ receiving $52.6 million in funding from the Canadian government through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Their fields of research range from understanding how galaxies and planets form to making drinking water safer to improving deep neural networks, which are driving the global artificial intelligence boom.

“I want to commend all of today’s recipients, particularly those at the ��Ƶ, who can use these funds to expand their research horizons,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, who took a break from North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations to attend the funding announcement held today at U of T’s downtown Toronto campus.

“By giving scientists the opportunity to pursue the answers to some of their most profound questions, our government is investing in a wealth of new knowledge and innovation that will help us build a bolder, brighter future for all people,” she added.

The U of T funds are part of a larger $515-million announcement for fundamental research made earlier today in Victoria by the federal government.

The funding, NSERC’s largest annual investment, provides researchers with financial support though scholarships, fellowships, research supplements and equipment grants.

Although the federal funding announced today is substantial, it remains important for the federal government to act on all 35 of the recommendations made by the Canada’s Fundamental Science Review panel, said U of T President Meric Gertler.

Read more about U of T's position on the Naylor report

Public funding and support for science is vitally important to ensure the “brilliant women and men” at U of T can continue to explore “new horizons of discovery” in globally important areas of research, the president said.

His comments were echoed by Vivek Goel, U of T’s vice-president of research and innovation: “We’re extremely proud of the students and faculty who are among the recipients of this year’s NSERC grants. Not only are they current and future leaders in their fields, their research is also a major reason for why the ��Ƶ is consistently ranked one of the top research universities in the world.”

Diamond, who is a core member of the Canadian Chemical Management Plan Science Committee, said Canadians are concerned – and rightly so – about toxic chemicals and their health effects.

“I believe basic research is important,” she said. “And I feel a responsibility to ensure my research speaks to issues that are of high importance to the public.”

One of those issues is looking at our everyday laundry. Chemicals accumulate in our clothes, too, and some of these chemicals come off in the washing machine and then are carried into the outdoor environment from treated waste water along Lake Ontario. Other chemicals stay put in fabric, which is also a potential health concern.

“It’s about looking at things in a new light that are literally right under our noses,” Diamond said with a laugh. “It comes from being a mom.”

“That’s why discovery and advances in knowledge can’t be planned. That’s what research is – research is discovery,” she said. “The reason why so many Canadian researchers are effective in their fields of expertise is that the NSERC program provides us with relatively stable funding for exploration.”

The federal funding is also making it possible for her to start work with a fellow researchers in Nigeria on the impact of e-waste – old electronics shipped as junk from North America and Europe – and the young children in Lagos who work to strip these old computers for reusable materials.

Why the federal budget should act on all Naylor report recommendations: U of T

lanthierj — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:10:16 +0000

Why the federal budget should act on all Naylor report recommendations: U of T

lanthierj Wed, 08/23/2017 - 09:10

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Chemistry students at the ��Ƶ (photo by Dave Chan)

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The federal government says it is planning to implement several key recommendations of an independent panel that examined how university research – key to driving knowledge and innovation – is funded in Canada.

Canada’s Fundamental Science Review panel, which issued its report in April, was commissioned by Federal Science Minister Kirsty Duncan and led by former U of T president David Naylor. It found per capita federal investment in fundamental science has slumped in recent decades and recommended a set of sweeping changes.

In a video uploaded to YouTube, Duncan talked about the government’s response to the Naylor report. In the three-minute video, Duncan speaks with Kate Young, parliamentary secretary for science, and confirms the government will now move forward to:

Establish a new advisory council on science and innovation, reporting to her and Navdeep Bains, federal minister of innovation, science and economic development, with an emphasis on openness and accountability.
Create a new coordinating board for the federal research funding granting councils — Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) — to improve harmonization and sustainability. “If a researcher applies for a lab or a new tool, they will also be able to apply for an operating grant, making it easier for our researchers,” Duncan says in the video.
Separate the management and governance roles within CIHR’s senior leadership, meaning the president of CIHR will no longer be chair of the governing council. Duncan will also jointly work on this with federal Health Minister Jane Philpott, since enacting the change will require amending CIHR’s founding legislation.

But the government has stopped short of promising to act on all 35 of the recommendations made by Canada’s Fundamental Science Review panel, including a $1.3-billion boost in federal research funding over four years. In a statement, Universities Canada, the voice of Canadian universities, said that while it “welcomes these steps” by Duncan it will continue to advocate “for urgent government action in budget 2018 on the financial recommendations in the panel’s report.”

Vivek Goel, U of T’s vice-president of research and innovation, said the ��Ƶ would like to see the Naylor recommendations fully implemented.

“The Fundamental Science Review presents a thoughtful, coherent plan that addresses all dimensions of Canada’s research system through a set of tightly linked recommendations. We will continue to work with our university colleagues across Canada to encourage the government to act on all 35 recommendations made by the panel,” Goel said.

Earlier this month, U of T re-emphasized the importance of implementing the Naylor recommendations “to strengthen the foundations of Canadian research” in its pre-budget submission to the federal government. U of T welcomes the report’s call for greater investments in discovery research.

U of T also highlighted the role fundamental research plays in enhancing productivity, driving economic growth and supporting the development of innovation superclusters in everything from making key medical discoveries to helping companies solve R&D challenges to supporting the creation of new startups by its students and researchers.

“We strongly concur with the panel’s position that research solves the big challenges of our time, underpins the education of an innovative workforce and fuels economic prosperity and innovation,” U of T’s submission says. “Our current status as an international leader in research has been built on the foundation of a robust national funding system.

“Maintaining and improving this foundation so that our scientific community remains at the forefront of international scholarship is critical to our national prosperity and well-being.”

Concerned researchers have also shown their support for the report. In June, nearly 200 gathered in Toronto — with another 185 tuning in online — to discuss the Naylor recommendations and devise a strategy to turn them into reality.

Jim Woodgett, a professor in the department of medical biophysics at the ��Ƶ, helped organize the event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

“The goal was to keep the conversation going,” said Woodgett, who is also the director of research and senior investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. “The report deals with the whole ecosystem of research and really provides a framework for pushing research forward in the next couple decades.”

Similar research community meetings were held at the University of Alberta and McGill University. Their efforts have been bolstered by groups such as Evidence for Democracy and the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences. Students across Canada have also been calling on the government to implement all recommendations of the Naylor report, organizing letter-writing, selfie, video testimonial and social media campaigns in support of the report.

See #Students4thereport

See Supporthereport.ca

(Photo of undergrad students in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering by Roberta Baker)

From ice fishing to stargazing: U of T students talk science with Sandy Lake First Nation

hjames — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 15:03:40 +0000

From ice fishing to stargazing: U of T students talk science with Sandy Lake First Nation

hjames Tue, 07/11/2017 - 11:03

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U of T Let's Talk Science volunteers in Sandy Lake, left to right: Alexa Chioran, Dheka Al-Basha, Samantha Stead and Candice Tang (photo by Alexa Chioran)

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When a group of U of T graduate students in the STEM fields were invited to Sandy Lake First Nation this spring, they shared their passion for science, helped with diabetes prevention programs and learned about local traditions and culture.

“It’s a two-way sharing and learning experience,” says Sandhya Mylabathula, a PhD candidate who helped coordinate the trip through U of T's Let's Talk Science site. Let’s Talk Science is a national organization running outreach programs to encourage engagement in science, technology and engineering.

The trip was the latest chapter in a partnership between U of T and Sandy Lake, a fly-in community located more than 1450 kilometers northwest of Toronto in Ontario. It's a partnership that has been going on for more than 20 years. In the early 90s, Sandy Lake’s Chief and Council invited U of T researchers specializing in Type 2 diabetes to help combat the disease that was plaguing their community.

Working closely with U of T researchers, Sandy Lake has developed its own diabetes prevention programs over the years. A local diabetes prevention radio show, a running club, healthy cooking classes and traditional hunting and fishing lessons are some of the initiatives that have sprung out of the community’s federally-funded Diabetes Prevention Program.

From Toronto to Tuktoyaktuk: U of T faculty, students take Science Rendezvous across Canada

Romi Levine — Fri, 12 May 2017 20:34:32 +0000

From Toronto to Tuktoyaktuk: U of T faculty, students take Science Rendezvous across Canada

Romi Levine Fri, 05/12/2017 - 16:34

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Kids learned about biology at U of T Scarborough's Science Rendezvous celebrations last year (photo by Ken Jones)

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“I'm hoping we light a little spark in these kids so they can discover and learn”

It took two days and five flights for ��Ƶ PhD student Daniel Szulc to get to Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories – all for the sake of science.

Szulc is running programming for the territory’s celebration of Science Rendezvous – a Canada-wide science and engineering festival for the entire family, which takes place this Saturday.

The Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) student will be flying on a tiny plane from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik and Aklavik throughout the day, running interactive workshops for children living in remote areas so they feel included in the day-long fun. The free festival engages students of all ages.

“We're running some demos with the classrooms where the children and students can do hands-on experiments and actually experience being a scientist,” Szulc says. “I'm hoping we light a little spark in these kids so they can discover and learn.”

Here's how you can celebrate Science Rendezvous at U of T

He described the area he'll be working in as “absolutely beautiful.”

“Because it's so remote, it's really difficult to get materials up here and get individuals up here so bringing science up here can allow kids to get a chance to interact with things that they don't normally interact with,” says Szulc.

Science Rendezvous, now in its 10th year, was the brainchild of U of T University Professor R. J. Dwayne Miller, who having been inspired by a similar event in Germany, decided to launch a festival in Canada in partnership with universities and organizations all over the country.

At U of T's downtown Toronto campus, there's plans to once again celebrate science in a big way. Students will get to explore outer space using virtual reality, watch an earthquake simulation and learn about edible bugs. Check out the exhibits lining St. George Street, take a tour of the campus’s state-of-the-art labs and participate in the Canada 150-themed Science Chase scavenger hunt.

“Science is about asking questions, solving problems, challenging dogma,” says University Professor Molly Shoichet, U of T President Meric Gertler's senior adviser on science and engineering engagement. “Imagine what we would be doing if we didn't? We probably would still be using leaches to cure diseases.

“Science Rendezvous ignites that spirit of discovery, engaging us all to invent a better future.”

Robots, solar cars, rockets, satellites, and drones, oh my! Come see them all at #SR2017 this Saturday, May 13th! #OdySci #ChooseScience pic.twitter.com/kZa3aCdrCe
— SR UofT (St. George) (@UofTSR) May 11, 2017

Unfortunately, U of T Scarborough’s Science Rendezvous activities, which were to take place at the Toronto Zoo, have been cancelled due to a strike.

Last year, the festival was attended by 300,000 people. Miller, like Szulc, sees it as an opportunity to inspire a new generation to “unleash their inner geek.”

“Everybody's born a scientist. Everybody's curious. We just need to get that instilled in a way that it's part of a lifelong pursuit so you stay thinking critically.”

This year, all Science Rendezvous sites are taking part in a water-testing experiment.

“It'll be a good opportunity to engage the local communities, and to get excited about water science and create a picture of the water health in Canada,” says Katie Miller, Science Rendezvous’ executive director. “They will upload the results to the website. It will create an overall picture of what is going on around the country.”

In the Northwest Territories, Szulc will be running the water-testing experiment and will be teaching high school students how to produce energy through water splitting.

“Then we're having elders come in to have their perspective on water – how they assess water, really trying to create culturally-relevant programming so students can see that their culture and their life here also connects to science, and they can use science to enhance it,” Szulc says.

#TBT to these young scientists having a great time at SR2016! Come to #SR2017 and these fashion choices could be yours! #OdySci pic.twitter.com/TBmFhbSbnH
— SR UofT (St. George) (@UofTSR) April 20, 2017

Science Rendezvous is a lot of fun, but it’s also a chance for scientists to showcase their work to a wider audience, says Professor Miller.

“It's a great opportunity for the scientists themselves to give back to the general public, tell them what they're doing with public money and explain what it's good for,” he says.

The event also helps to ignite a passion for science that many scientists feel is under threat south of the border.

“Now more than ever it's becoming apparent at how much we need to be more active and engaging our general population,” says Katie Miller. “For a while, it was assumed it was seen as being important, and now we really need to re-engage with the general population on a regular basis and keep that importance relevant in their mind.”

U of T joins global Biodiversity Heritage Library to digitize, archive science literature

Romi Levine — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 17:19:27 +0000

U of T joins global Biodiversity Heritage Library to digitize, archive science literature

Romi Levine Tue, 01/24/2017 - 12:19

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Gerstein Science Information Centre uploaded 2.3 million pages-worth of science literature to the Biodiversity Heritage Library online archive. (Photo by Romi Levine)

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��Ƶ Libraries is the newest and only Canadian member of the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), a massive digitization project that provides free online access to scientific literature from prestigious institutions all over the world.

Members include the Smithsonian, Harvard University and London’s Natural History Museum.

“We're really thrilled to be partnering with Biodiversity Heritage Library and all the other institutions that are part of it,” says Neil Romanosky, U of T Libraries’ associate chief librarian for science research and information.

U of T has the largest academic library system in Canada, ranked fourth in North America by the Association of Research Libraries. It has already contributed 3.3 million pages of literature to BHL from its of collection rare and unique books and journals spanning hundreds of years.

#Mollusks from our newest #BHLib Member, @uoftlibraries @GersteinLibrary for #MolluskMonday https://t.co/XPLlXBBPZO #MolluscMonday pic.twitter.com/92bcWBmhgW
— BHL (@BioDivLibrary) January 23, 2017

It’s part of U of T’s massive collection of natural history literature belonging to its 10 science libraries, which includes Gerstein Science Information Centre, Canada’s largest standalone science and health library, as well as the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, which holds a collection that includes original works by Charles Darwin.

“We felt Biodiversity Heritage Library's key values really aligned with those of ��Ƶ Libraries, specifically open access, collaboration among libraries, archives, museums and other kinds of organizations in making collections more freely available,” says Romanosky.

U of T Libraries has contributed books to BHL on everything from anatomy to botany. (Photo by Romi Levine)

U of T already hosts an Internet Archive scanning centre, so many of its historic collections are already available online.

Archiving material online allows researchers all over the world to gain access to hard-to-find material.

It’s the ultimate democratic gesture, says Vincci Lui, faculty liaison & instruction librarian at Gerstein.

“We're such a global economy now, it's so much easier to share your knowledge with someone across the globe – it's something libraries are huge proponents of,” she says. “Instead of reaching a tiny amount of people, you see thousands and thousands of people having access to these collections – it's a pretty cool thing.”

The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London includes Isaac Newton's first mention of the Theory of Light and Colours. U of T contributed editions of this journal from the 1800s and a substantial number from the 1900s to the BHL database. (Photo by Romi Levine)

Digitizing also provides access to some of U of T’s more well-loved items that are hard to handle.

“Some of our books are very brittle so the ability to be able to preserve them and share them is amazing,” says Lui.

U of T students and faculty can access Gerstein's large collection of historic medical and scientific books on the bottom floor of the library. (Photo by Romi Levine)

As a new political era begins in the United States, the country’s commitment to climate, science and environmental issues hangs in the balance, making the BHL more imperative than ever before, Romanosky says.

“Open access and furthering the pursuit of knowledge and new knowledge generation around biodiversity is a great way to ensure that in this era of uncertainty, ��Ƶ has a way to keep the conversation going and to share the great strengths we have in this area more broadly and globally,” he says. “One of the great strengths of the libraries is that we are a crossroads within the institution and we really hold a great spot to further public discourse on these issues.”

Globe and Mail science reporter and U of T alumnus Ivan Semeniuk receives 2016 Sandford Fleming Medal

ullahnor — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 16:01:10 +0000

Globe and Mail science reporter and U of T alumnus Ivan Semeniuk receives 2016 Sandford Fleming Medal

ullahnor Thu, 11/17/2016 - 11:01

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Ivan Semeniuk (centre) is awarded the 2016 Sandford Fleming Medal from Peter Love, president of the Royal Canadian Institute (right), and Reza Moridi (left), Ontario's minister of research, innovation and science. Photo by Veronica Zaretski

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For more than two decades, Ivan Semeniuk covered breaking scientific research – from the mysteries of the universe to the ancient creatures that once inhabited the Earth.

Now, The Globe and Mail science reporter and U of T alumnus has joined the ranks of Chris Hadfield, David Suzuki and U of T’s Molly Shoichet as a recipient of the Sandford Fleming Medal & Citation.

The Royal Canadian Institute for the Advancement of Science presents the award annually to a Canadian who engages the public in issues related to science and technology and helps foster a scientifically literate and well-informed public.

Semeniuk's love for science developed during his time as an undergrad in the department of astronomy and astrophysics at U of T.

“Astronomy was my first love,” Semeniuk said, adding visits to the planetarium as a kid “completely fired my imagination.”

He said he is fascinated by astronomical and medical research and is particularly captivated by the journey to understand the earliest moments of the universe.

The richness of science research in Canada makes it all the more imoprtant to support science journalism, Semeniuk said. But he said there is a shortage of resources and journalists to cover this important work.

“Thanks to the Internet, Canadians have more access than ever to science news but the science in their own backyard is still underreported,” he told U of T News. “This award is a huge validation for doing that work and a huge validation for The Globe and Mail.

“The fact that The Globe and Mail has committed a full time position to cover science, the importance of that cannot be underestimated. That speaks volumes and it’s my privilege to be able to enact that.”

Semeniuk has continued to be an active part of the U of T community – he was affiliated with Massey College and teaches a science journalism workshop for graduate students offered through U of T’s School of Graduate Studies.

“When I interact with students I’m forced to think about why I do what I do,” he said. “It made me a better journalist.”

He also acknowledged the important role of universities in sparking an interest for science.

“Much of the research in Canada is done in universities and U of T is the largest research university in the country,” he said. “It’s a diverse community with an astonishing amount of talent.

“It’s amazing how many people pass through Toronto that are important to the progress of science – this is a big plus for Toronto. Having said that I don’t think we should be complacent. It’s a very competitive environment and we have to keep thinking about how we can make Toronto and Canada an attractive destination for scientists and a focal point for science.”

Semeniuk sees the award less as a prize for the work that he has done and more as encouragement to keep doing it. He said he is determined to continue “putting science in the public space and do that in the public interest.”

Science

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