Thread by @ShawnMcGuirk

Stellar panel at @research_money #RM_Ott19 to cap off the evening, chaired by Paul Dufour, w/ Dan Wayner @NRC_CNRC, Sarah Gallagher @scgQuasar @csa_asc, and @ChiefSciCan

P Dufour - There is nothing more useless, than unwanted science advice. Need demand, context, and institutional capacity to sustain it. It's important to maintain trust, and not to oversell the role of advisors.

So, what's the secret sauce to support #scienceadvice in Canada?

#RM_Ott19 @ChiefSciCan is the "dean" of #scienceadvice in Canada, but it still feels like she just got there. Most importantly, she hopes that she is the first of many.

#RM_Ott19 @ChiefSciCan provides advice to PM and ministers ➡️ she has recently been asked for recommendations for how science advice infrastructure in 🇨🇦 should be best supported.
#scipol

#RM_Ott19 @scgQuasar is advisor to president of @csa_asc, and half her job is still as prof @WesternU where she still mentors trainees and après for grants. She is a link to the science community.

She also supports @ChiefSciCan as space agency expert

#RM_Ott19 @scgQuasar also engages each dept within @csa_asc to create relationships and to understand all the great work done by the agency, which she can communicate and champion at different levels

#RM_Ott19 Dan Wayner is back at @NRC_CNRC after 31 years and retirement, now as science advisor. His internal role is working with president to ensure NRC maintains and grows its research excellence.

If NRC is successful, its because someone 20 yrs ago took the right decisions

#RM_Ott19 D Wayner's external role @NRC_CNRC is to be part of @ChiefSciCan network to help coordinate #scienceadvice.

The #ScienceIntegrity policy is one example of a great deliverable, which required collaboration across government and beyond

P Dufour - how do you sustain demand for #scienceadvice?

@ChiefSciCan cites @PeterGluckman, who says government is often a poor client for science advice.

It's challenging to determine where the value added of advice will lie, esp since it is most useful early in policy process

#RM_Ott19 an integrated approach to #scienceadvice is most valuable, especially if that network is built in across departments - @ChiefSciCan

@scgQuasar adds that she doesn't need to create demand @csa_asc, it's already there! This is because the process starts with science.

#RM_Ott19 D Wayner @NRC_CNRC says #scienceadvice requires courage. The best advice isn't always what people want to hear. But, in strong relationships built on evidence and trust, it will be taken at face value.

A good advisor doesn't sugar coat advice to make it palatable

#RM_Ott19 P Dufour asks, how do you break down silos?

@ChiefSciCan says she is often asked why science advisor are needed in depts... there are ADMs, Science Officers, etc.

A science advisor brings elements of connectivity and supports interdisciplinary, Team Canada approach

#RM_Ott19 D Wayner @NRC_CNRC doubles down on connectivity and collaboration ➡️ this is a top ingredient in successful #scienceadvice infrastructure, and it is something 🇨🇦 & @ChiefSciCan is trying to build

#RM_Ott19 @scgQuasar adds that her position allows her to connect btw government and academia ➡️ there are shared goals and common issues which require a convener and a common language (via translator like herself), to establish collaboration

#RM_Ott19 Q from @mgfortin_rd: there are different types of research (discovery based, priority based, partnership driven, intramural, extramural), how can #ScienceAdvice foster and account for all sources of Canadian Science?

#RM_Ott19 @ChiefSciCan says many Canadians did not know we have federal scientists, until the #DeathOfEvidence marches in 2015. Different sources of research also have different outputs. Publications are not the only currency.

#RM_Ott19 If we have a national emergency, academics can't drop everything to solve it, we need to be able to drive rapid response research through direct means.

D Wayner adds that the culture and reward structure is different in academia, government, industry.
#scipol

#RM_Ott19 D Wayner @NRC_CNRC - it is more important to build a model of science where everyone can contribute to the best of their ability, than a uniform model where everyone needs to fit in. #scipol #cdnsci

#RM_Ott19 Q, what are the areas where external advice can have the greatest impact? @ChiefSciCan says it's hard to speculate on this. #scienceadvice is relationship based and depends on priorities. It is also important to know where the gaps in knowledge are, for these areas.

#RM_Ott19 D Wayner @NRC_CNRC adds #scienceadvice must have an anticipatory function, since we need to get informed before advising.

@scgQuasar adds final word, that science advisors as a network can collaborate on strategic thinking, on a roadmap for fostering #scienceadvice

#RM_Ott19 Irrespective of election results, of budget for science, it is important to build a true and lasting relationship between science and policy. It is our collective responsibility to support this infrastructure and build capacity - @ChiefSciCan
#scipol #cdnsci #cdnpoli

@threadreaderapp #unroll please!