Centre for Internet and Society

The High Level Privacy Conclave

praskrishna — 2012-02-01T06:29:20Z

Privacy India in partnership with the International Development Research Centre, Canada, Society in Action Group, Gurgaon and Privacy International, UK is organizing the High Level Privacy Conclave at the Paharpur Business Centre, Nehru Place Greens in New Delhi on Friday, February 3, 2012.

Since June 2010, Privacy India has been engaging in discussions with policy makers, the public and sectoral experts about privacy in India. The discussions have ranged from topics of identity and privacy, to minority rights and privacy, and consumer privacy. The findings of our research show that privacy was a neglected area of study in India during the past, however, this is changing. Advancements in technology, the introduction of e-governance initiatives like the National Fibre Optic Network, introduction of new legislations, and debates surrounding national security, have brought privacy debates to the forefront in India. Although currently sectoral legislation deals with privacy issues, e.g., the Telegraph Act or RBI guidelines for banking, India has just begun to consider a horizontal legislation that deals comprehensively with privacy across all contexts. This conference is an opportunity to look forward to what could be the future scope of privacy in India.

Privacy India was set up in collaboration with the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), Bangalore and Society in Action Group, Gurgaon, under the auspices of an international organization ‘Privacy International’. Privacy International is a non-profit group that provides assistance to civil society groups, governments, international and regional bodies, the media and the public in a number of countries. For more info visit its website.

This is a closed-door meeting. For participation get in touch with Elonnai (elonnai@cis-india.org).

Conclave Advisors

Sunil Abraham, Centre for Internet &Society (www.cis-india.org)
Gus Hosein, Privacy International (www.privacyinternational.org)
Phet Sayo, IDRC (www.idrc.org)
Rajan Gandhi, Society in Action Group (sag.delhi@gmail.com)
Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Centre for Law and Policy Research, Bangalore (www.clpr.org.in)
Vickram Crishna, Privacy International (www.privacyinternational.org)

Agenda

February 3 (4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Registration and Tea (4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

Welcome &Introduction to Privacy India (4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.)

Rajan Gandhi (CEO, Society in Action Group)

National Security and Privacy (4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.)

Moderator: Malavika Jayaram (Advocate, Bangalore)
Gus Hosein (Executive Director, Privacy International, UK)
Vakul Sharma (Advocate, Supreme Court, New Delhi)
Justice AP Shah (Former Justice, Delhi High Court)
PK Hormis Tharakan (Former Chief of Research and Analysis Wing, Govt of India)
Saikat Dutta (Journalist, DNA)
Manish Tewari (Member of Parliament, Ludhiana)
Eric King (Human Rights and Technology Advisor, Privacy International, UK)

Internet and Privacy (5:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.)

Moderator: Sunil Abraham (Executive Director, Centre for Internet & Society, Bangalore)
Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Member of Parliament, Karnataka)
Simon Davies (Director General, Privacy International, UK)
Vinayak Godse (Director- Data Protection, DSCI)
Deepak Maheshwari (Director Corporate Affairs, Microsoft)
Amitabh Das (General Counsel, Yahoo! India)
Talish Ray (Board Member, Software Freedom Law Center)
Pria Chetty (Associate Director, Technology and Innovation Law, PricewaterhouseCoopers, South Africa)*
Floriana Fossato (Center for Media and Society, Russia) *

The Way Forward (6:45 p.m - 7:00 p.m.)

Elonnai Hickok (Policy Advocate, Privacy India)

Dinner (7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)

Conclave Advisors

Phet Sayo
Rajan Gandhi
Sunil Abraham
Sudhir Krishnaswamy
Vickram Crishna

*Participants to be confirmed

Amol Sharma (Journalist, Wall Street Journal)
Col Alok Mazumdar (COO, Hans Foundation)
Vibodh Parthasarathy (Associate Professor, Centre for Culture, Media & Governance, Jamia Milla Islamia University, Delhi)

See the Paharpur Business Centre in Nehru Place here

Download the agenda here

Download the event poster here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/high-level-privacy-conclave

CIS Hosts Scanned Version of George Orwell’s Books vs. Cigarettes

praskrishna — 2011-12-01T13:31:39Z

Verbindingen/Jonctions (V/J), the bi-annual multidisciplinary festival organised by Constant is taking place on December 1, 2011. Amateur scanning of books often raises a lot of questions, around the issue of copyright. For this V/J13 is scanning George Orwell’s Books vs. Cigarettes. The essay is in public domain in Russia, India and South Africa, but not in Europe and America due to copyright issues. CIS is hosting the scanned pages of the essay in public domain.

During the morning session DIY-made book scanner and OCR-software will be used to transform the scans into text files and in the afternoon session the digital material generated in the morning will be remixed.

The main sessions can be followed online at the home page of VJ13

About VJ13

Verbindingen/Jonctions (V/J) is the bi-annual multidisciplinary festival organised by Constant. Since 1997, Verbindingen/Jonctions combines high, low and no-tech strategies from utopian, contemporary, traditional and tribal cultures, free software, feminism and queer theories. V/J is an occasion to explore the space between thinking and doing, and the festival is always a mix of activities. It is an occasion to invite radio makers, artists, programmers, academics, Linux users, interface designers, urban explorers, performance artists, technicians, lawyers and others to experience each other’s practice, and to share their interests with a broad public of visitors.

V/J13 has been developed in collaboration with Le P’tit Ciné, Recyclart, Hacker Space Brussels (HSB), QO2, Renovas, Boutique de Quartier and Yves Poliart, Myriam Van Imschoot, Piet Zwart Institute: Networked Media.

Download the scanned version (Zip files, 28091 kb)

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/books-vs-cigarettes

Dialogue Cafe @ Centre for Internet and Society

praskrishna — 2011-12-07T11:10:08Z

The Centre for Internet and Society announces the launch of its dialogue cafe, where every month, we approach seminal thinkers, scholars and practitioners to help explore knowledge paradigms that help us understand and research techno-social realities through innovative thought, concepts and frameworks.

The dialogue cafe draws upon different disciplines, histories, perspectives and intellectual legacies in order to respond to a seminal piece of writing that has changed, challenged and shaped the contours of interdisciplinary science and technology studies.

The dialogue cafe initiates several strands of dialogues — between critical thinkers and canonical texts, between different paradigm of knowledges that interact with digital and internet technologies, and between interlocutors located in different disciplines, to initiate critical thought/work for new and innovative research in the field of Internet and Society.

For its first brew of conversations, the Dialogue Cafe serves you...

Computation and the Humanities: Revisiting a Silent Revolution

Steve Jobs’ comments on how “technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities” made Apple hearts sing is today widely re-circulated, but not fully comprehended. We often take this to be the mark of one man’s genius, rather than the symptom of a broader interdisciplinary history. Noted Artificial Intelligence scholar Philip Agre recalls, “When I was a graduate student in artificial intelligence, the humanities were not held in high regard. They were vague and woolly, they employed impenetrable jargons, and they engaged in "meta-level bickering that never decides anything".

What happened, in the formative decades of Jobs and Agre’s generation, to bring technology and the humanities into conversation? What have the results been, other than well-designed personal computational devices, and what is the significance for us? On December 2, 2011, the Centre for Internet and Society invites you to a Dialogue Cafe, where we engage in exploring what this all means and what kinds of labour it might take to ‘marry’ these disparate ways of knowing.

As a response to Philip Agre’s seminal essay on “Critical Technology Practice”, the cafe will begin with an exposition by Kavita Philip (University of California, Irvine), opening up into a critical response spearheaded by Cherry Matthew, and leading to a larger dialogue with the audience, exploring fault lines of interdisciplinary research and challenges of integrated technology studies.

For more background on these questions, audience is encouraged (but not required) to explore the materials at Agre’s home page http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/, and STSrelated links from Wikipedia’s page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science,_technology_and_society

VIDEOS

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/dialogue-cafe

Mobility Shifts 2011 — An International Future of Learning Summit

praskrishna — 2015-03-30T14:55:16Z

The summit was organised by the New School and sponsored by MacArthur Foundation and Mozilla. It was held from October 10 to October 16, 2011 at the New School, New York City.

Nishant Shah participated in the summit and spoke on Digital Outcasts: Social Justice, Technology and Learning in India. The video of the event is online.

Agenda and Program details PDF document, 1611 kb

VIDEO

Mobility Shifts 2011, Nishant Shah from The Politics of Digital Culture on Vimeo.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/digital-natives/pathways/blog/mobility-shifts-2011

Move over Kolaveri di, here comes Gowda

praskrishna — 2011-11-28T06:58:54Z

Transparency is the buzzword in governance and chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda is eager to set a new benchmark. You could soon watch what the chief minister is doing at office, live on YouTube. This article was published in dailybhaskar.com on November 28, 2011.

Cameras are being installed at the chief minister's office in Vidhana Soudha and his home office, Krishna. The live footage will be uploaded to YouTube. "I always wanted to maintain transparency in my functioning. Very soon, I will put it to work, when people can watch me live at what I am doing when inoffice. Let the people see who come to meet me, what I do and how I work. This will set a new example, but there will be no compulsion for my colleagues to emulate me. It is entirely up to them whether to follow me or not," said Gowda on Sunday.

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy has already set a precedent by installing cameras in his office. On July 1 this year, the day Chandy's experiment went 'live', one lakh visitors logged in. Talking to The New York Times earlier this year, Sunil Abraham, executive director of the Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, said "He applauded Chandy's webcams, even if the effort amounted to no more than tokenism."This type of tokenism is also quite useful," The NYT reported Abraham as saying.

In Karnataka, the much-hyped Citizens' Charter would be implemented after the state legislature, which begins on December 6, ends. The cabinet had already cleared the proposal and the bill on time-bound delivery of public services would be introduced in the session, added Gowda.

The proposed bill will make it mandatory for officials in government offices to deliver public services within stipulated period of time and failure to do so would make them liable for penal action and fine to be computed for every day of delay.

Already, Bescom chief P Manivannan has installed a webcam in his office. The NYT earlier reported Manivannan as saying that "he was installing a 'hemispheric' camera that would capture the goings-on in his entire office rather than just show his visitors."

Read the original published in dailybhaskar.com here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/here-comes-gowda

An Interview of Nirmita Narasimhan on ITU Portal

praskrishna — 2011-11-28T06:36:54Z

ITU Girls in ICT is now online! ITU interviewed Nirmita and published her profile on their website.

Nirmita Narasimhan

Programme Manager
Centre for Internet and Society, India
Centre for Internet and Society, India

Nirmita Narasimhan is a Programme Manager with the Centre for Internet and Society and works on policy research and advocacy related to IP reform and technology access for persons with disabilities. She was awarded the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities by the President of India in recognition of her work in December 2010. Her work ranges from research and policy drafting and review to advocacy through campaigns, workshops etc.

Nirmita’s current work focuses on copyright reform, accessibility, engaging in international discussions on IP related instruments at the World Intellectual Property Organisation, working with disability organisations, governments and UN bodies in advocating for digital accessibility, promoting open access with the Government of India and other issues which are part of the policy space in ICT accessibility in India. Certain specific areas on which she has worked are formulation of the draft National Electronic Accessibility Policy (with the Department of Information Technology), reviewing the Indian Copyright Act and working towards amendments to the Act to include exceptions and limitations for the print challenged, working at a national level towards support of the World Blind Union treaty at the WIPO, organising workshops on web accessibility for web developers in different cities around the country, working towards making accessible materials available for the visually challenged, creating advocacy resources for disability organisations and policymakers on implementing different aspects of the UNCRPD related to ICT accessibility etc. Nirmita’s work can be viewed at www.cis-india.org. Nirmita has presented papers in international fora like the IGF and the Asia Pacific conference on mainstreaming ICT technologies which was held in Bangkok in August 2009. Her focus was primarily policy formulation for ICT and electronic accessibility. She has also contributed to the G3ICT -ITU e-accessibility toolkit for policymakers which was published on line in February 2010and was editor of its print handbook version which was released in Delhi in October 2010. Since then, Nirmita is also part of the G3ict editorial team. Nirmita participated in the Right to Read event held in the European parliament in May 2010 and participated in the UN expert committee on implementation of the UNCRPD with respect to ICT and electronic accessibility for persons with disabilities in developing countries in June 2010. Nirmita has prepared reports in the capacity of expert for ITU and UNESCO on accessible mobile telephony and accessible ICT for education in the Asia Pacific region.

Nirmita is also a proficient Karnatic classical music singer and has been giving performances for many years now.

What would you say are the most challenging and the most satisfying aspects of your work?

One of the most challenging aspects of my work has been to make people from diverse backgrounds realise the need for accessibility and take action on it. I often encounter ignorance about the needs of persons with disabilities and a lack of sensitivity to their need for independence and dignity. It is very difficult to remain objective when faced with attitudes that consider dependence on others as an inevitable side affect of disability, instead of trying to see how attitudes and procedures can be improved to encourage and support independence. Dealing with people who are closed to new ideas and bringing them to an intelligent comprehension of disability is a difficult task. Another really challenging aspect of my work has been to try and build consensus amongst different organisations to work together towards a common goal.

The most satisfying aspect of my work is seeing the value it provides to people and how lives will become better because of some change I have worked towards bringing about. For instance as a result of the Right to Read campaign, the parliamentary Standing Committee recognised that the proposed wording in the new draft copyright bill was discriminatory and recommended that the concerns of disability groups be taken on board. This amendment will open up the world of books and knowledge to approximately 70 million persons with disabilities in India. Similarly when the Government comes out with an electronic accessibility policy, it will mean that eventually 7000 government web sites will become accessible to persons using assistive technologies. Another example of satisfaction was when the USOF started a process for including persons with disabilities in their pilot project scheme.

What qualifications or certifications did you attain in order to reach your professional goals?

I have a Bachelors degree in law. But more than just qualifications or certifications, I have learnt and achieved mostly through my experience and interaction with people around me.

If there is one message you would like to convey to young women to encourage them to consider a profession in the ICT sector, what would it be?

ICT can truly be a great equalizer since it opens up limitless opportunities for persons with disabilities and the world to benefit from each other. As a person with a disability myself, I have experienced firsthand the transforming power of ICT in my life. Despite not having an ICT background to start with, today I am working in the field of ICT and Accessibility. One of the lessons I have learnt on my journey is that one should not be afraid of trying new things for fear of failure or be hesitant to ask for help in the course of one’s life. Failures and dependence upon people are a part of every person’s life and should not be construed as a sign of individual weakness or weakness stemming from disability. For many people around the world, ICT has made it possible to live more or less independently and participate on an equal basis with the rest of society. I strongly urge all girls and women to take up a career using ICT as it will prove to be an invaluable tool to live a more independent life.

School and Degree Awarded

Bachelor of Law, University of Delhi
Bachelor (Hons) German, Jawaharlal Nehru University
M.Phil (Karnatic Music), University of Delhi

Featured projects

I have worked on several projects over the past few years. I contributed to the G3ict-ITU e-Accessibility Toolkit for Policymakers and was also editor of the print version. My organisation CIS was one of the champions of the Right to Read campaign.

www.e-accessibilitytoolkit.org
www.cis-india.org
http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/disabled.htm

On line bio/story

Online bio

Read the original published by ITU here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/interview-with-nirmita

Is Facebook tracking your virtual footprints?

praskrishna — 2011-11-24T03:02:00Z

Social media experts claim number of cases of privacy violations against the site has increased in past few months; Facebook rubbishes the allegations. This article by Sheetal Sukhija was published in MidDay on 22 November 2011.

If you thought your online footprints would be erased by merely clicking on the 'delete web history' option and no one would ever know about your virtual movements, think again.

For, some popular social networking sites have been accused of tracking their users' movements on the Internet even when they log out from the sites.

According to reports in the international media, Facebook, the virtual face of around 80 crore people across the globe, is battling a series of legal cases for alleged violating users' privacy worldwide.

While the social media giant has categorically said that they have not misused any user data, internet experts have dubbed the website 'the big brother of new media'.

"Many users claim that when they log onto their accounts, Facebook automatically installs a cookie onto a user's browser, which keeps tracking their movement on the internet.

We believe that Facebook might be using this just to boost their marketing and not to sell this data to any third party," said Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, Centre For Internet and Society.

Experts also believe that using such strategies have now made Facebook the world leader when it comes to credible demographic information.

"Facebook has achieved the status of possessing the most accurate demographic information. It is a credible source to understand consumer habits of a single unique user and even user groups. However, using such information is surely a violation of privacy," he added.

Former member of NASSCOM, Pratap Reddy, believes that often people ignore the 'fine print' or the agreement page while creating an account on a social networking site or elsewhere on the net. "When users sign up on these social networking websites, they often ignore the fine print.

When legal cases come up, companies often defend their stance by saying that their agreement page (or privacy policy page) mentioned all such things and make up a leeway for themselves," argued Reddy.

He added, "This is surely a violation, but there is also a positive side to this. Such websites are only trying to facilitate users better, based on their past web history. This helps them put you onto people/issues/topics that you have previously searched - like a mediator," added Reddy.

All about marketing?
Experts argued that this is not for the first time a website is being sued for such an act. In the past, Google, Adobe, Microsoft, Yahoo and other online advertising agencies too have been criticised for using such controversial tracking cookie technology.

According to reports, users from across the world have been taking legal recourse after pointing out that Facebook used cookie technology to track their virtual movements even after they have logged out of the social networking site.

Australian blogger Nik Cubrilovic is the latest user to join the growing list of people suing the website for violating federal wiretap laws, reported a UK-based tabloid.

The other side
Defending their stance, Facebook argued in its official statement that they are not tracking users across the web.

Facebook's official stance: Facebook does not track users across the web. Instead, we use cookies on social plugins to personalise content, to help maintain and improve what we do, or for safety and security.

No information we receive when you see a social plugins is used to target ads, we delete or anonymise this information within 90 days, and we never sell your information.

Specific to logged out cookies, they are used for safety and protection. They are used for identifying spammers and phishers, detecting when somebody unauthorised is trying to access your account, helping you get back into your account if you get hacked, disabling registration for a under-age users who try to re-register with a different birth date, powering account security features such as 2nd factor login approvals and notification and identifying shared computers to discourage the use of 'keep me logged in'.

Security tips
Internet security software experts suggest that installing strong anti-virus software would be the first step towards protecting your privacy.

Installing an anti-virus software
Every such software has a social network control option that prompts users when any unsolicited cookie is installed. By using this option, a user holds the right to refuse such installations.

Read the original article published in MidDay here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/facebook-tracking-footprints

3rd Canadian Science Policy Conference

praskrishna — 2011-11-23T15:57:58Z

The Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC) organised the 2011 conference at the Ottawa Convention Centre from 16 to 18 November 2011. Sunil Abraham spoke in the session on Global Implications of Open and Inclusive Innovation.

Conference Objectives

The Canadian Science Policy Conference fills a critical gap in the Canadian science policy environment by providing a permanent national forum for discussing science policy issues. The main objectives of the conference were to:

to provide an inclusive forum at the national level to identify, discuss and provide insights into the current Canadian science, technology and innovation policy issues;
to forge stronger linkages and create networking opportunities among science policy stakeholders;
to provide a venue for a new generation of scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers to interact, innovate and shape the future of Canadian science policy landscape which is required for a knowledge-driven economy;
to provide a supportive environment for innovative ideas and projects in science policy, and encourage further collaborations across sectors;
to lay the foundation for a centre dedicated to science, technology and innovation policy.

Agenda

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Registration Opens
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Optional Workshop - Science Policy 101 (additional charges apply)
Part I: Understanding the Nuts and Bolts…
This workshop will provide a general overview of science policy, both in terms of “policy for science” and “science for policy.” The introductory session assumes participants have no prior knowledge of science policy and is intended for researchers, policy analysts, journalists/communicators, students and others interested in gaining a basic understanding of science policy definitions, concepts, governance, key players, key issues, funding, science advisory mechanisms, etc. Led by experts in science policy, the workshop will underscore the importance of scientists’ understanding the impacts of science in the policy-making process and the impacts of policy-making on the research enterprise.

Part II: Career Development Workshop: So You Want to do Science Policy...
Potentially interested in science policy but not sure where to turn? Join us to explore career opportunities and job-seeking strategies at the intersection of science and policy. You'll hear from and interact with a variety of science policy professionals at various stages of their careers and who have walked quite different paths to get to where they are. The workshop will explore skills needed to succeed in science policy and describe several avenues for learning more about science policy. Whether your background is in the sciences, engineering, public policy or whatever, if you have an interest in working in science policy this is an excellent opportunity to expand your professional network. The workshop will also be your opportunity to suggest how the Canadian Science Policy Centre can best support your career development needs and aspirations in science policy.

Jeff Kinder, Ph.D
Manager, S&T Strategy - Innovation and Energy Technology Sector
Natural Resources Canada
Jeff Kinder has over twenty years of experience in government science and in science and technology (S&T) policy in the U.S. and Canada. His experience in the U.S. includes work at the National Science Foundation, the National Academies' Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy, and research in applied ocean acoustics at the Naval Research Laboratory. In Canada, Jeff has worked as Senior Policy Advisor in Science and Innovation at Industry Canada and in support of the Council of Science and Technology Advisors (CSTA), the external board that advised Cabinet on the management of federal S&T from 1998-2007. He is currently Manager, S&T Strategy, at Natural Resources Canada. Jeff’s research and teaching focuses on S&T policy, government laboratories, innovation systems and science advisory mechanisms. He is the co-author with Bruce Doern of Strategic Science in the Public Interest: Canada's Government Laboratories and Science-Based Agencies (University of Toronto Press, 2007) and is working on a history of the Science Council of Canada. He holds a PhD in Public Policy, an M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy and a B.S. in Physics.

Jason Blackstock, Ph.D
Senior Fellow CIGI & Research Scholar
IIASA Austria
With a unique background in physics, technology and international affairs, Dr Jason J Blackstock is a leading international policy adviser and scholar on both emerging geoengineering technologies, and the interface between science and global governance institutions. A physicist by training (PhD) and trade (PPhys), as well as a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School (MPA), Jason is the Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment at CIGI (the Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada) and a Research Scholar at IIASA (the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria), where he leads several international research projects evaluating the scientific, political and global governance implications of climate change, energy transitions, and emerging geoengineering technologies. Jason has also been elected Associate Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Science, and is an adjunct member of faculty at the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE).

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
CSPC Supporter’s Caf (by invitation only, open to supporters and community partners)

3:30 pm - 5:15 pm
Science and Humanitarian Efforts - POSTPONED TILL 2012

Challenges for Young Researchers: Insights from the 2011 PAGSE Symposium
Fuelling Science Policy – new leaders speak out. Young scientists and engineers comprise a critically important, mobile pool of talent that stands to change the geography of knowledge in fundamental ways. Join a discussion with outstanding early career researchers from across Canada, as they present provocative views on the challenges and opportunities they face in driving the science agenda in this country over the next 25 years.
Your panelists for this session will come from the top-tier of young Canadian researchers. Prior to the conference this select group will be working together to develop the specific challenges that will be discussed. Members of this group will be identified during the session.

Moderator
Rees Kassen, Ph.D.
University Research Chair in Experimental Evolution
University of Ottawa
Despite being less than a decade into his career, Dr. Rees Kassen has quickly developed an international reputation. To the astonishment of more established colleagues, he has already published an impressive four papers in the field’s most prestigious journal, Nature. During his time at the University of Ottawa he has developed a strong independent research program and attracted more than $500,000 in research funding. In the process he has proved his strengths in designing and executing microbial experiments to test theory in ecology and evolution. Dr. Kassen manages to serve on a number of committees both at the university and in the community. His work has also attracted considerable media attention, and has been highlighted in the popular press such as CBC-Radio, the Toronto Star, Danish daily newspapers a podcast for the American Society of Microbiologists.

Arctic and Northern Science Policy and International Diplomacy
Canada’s share of the Earth’s arctic region is perhaps the largest in the world, but given the shared nature of arctic sovereignty, environmental stewardship and scientific research in this region must proceed within a spirit of international collaboration. Following on the heels of the third International Polar Year (2007-2009), this panel invites commentary from various international arctic stakeholders on the way that science and diplomacy interact and support one another in the process of researching Earth’s northern regions.

Moderator
Anita Dey Nuttall, Ph.D
Associate Director ( Research Advancement)
Canadian Circumpolar Institute, University of Alberta
Dey Nuttall's research focuses on the interface between science and politics in the Polar Regions, and in particular how a nation’s science policy and strategic interests influence and determine the development of its national Antarctic programs. She is currently developing new research on Canada’s strategy for polar science and development of the Canadian Antarctic Research Program.

David Hik, Ph.D
Professor - University of Alberta
President - International Arctic Science Committee
David Hik, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Northern Ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, and President of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC). From 2004-2009 he was also Executive Director of the Canadian International Polar Year (IPY) Secretariat.

His research program is focused on experimental and long-term studies of plant-herbivore dynamics and interactions in Arctic and alpine environments. For the past 20 years, most of this work has been conducted in the mountains of the southwest Yukon.

Stephanie Meakin
Science Advisor
Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada
Stephanie Meakin has a background in biology with more than 20 years experience as a policy and science advisor to various government and non-governmental organizations, including Inuit organizations at the national and international levels. She is currently the Science Advisor for the Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada and has spent eight years as lead researcher with ArcticNet on various research programs and projects.

Russel Shearer
Chair - Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP)
& Director - Northern Science and Contaminants Research Directorate
Aboringal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Russel Shearer is the Director of the Northern Science and Contaminants Research Directorate within Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (formerly Indian and Northern Affairs Canada). Mr. Shearer is also the Chair of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) working group, which is one of six working groups that carry out the work of the Arctic Council. Additionally, Mr. Shearer serves as the Chair of the Research Management Committee for ArcticNet, which is a network of Centres of Excellence, focussed on studying the impacts of climate change within the costal Canadian Arctic. Mr. Shearer has published a number of papers on the presence and impact of contaminants within the North and works primarily under the auspices of the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP).

Roberta Burns
US Arctic Officer
US State Department
Jenkins R&D Review Panel Report Recommendations - Implications for Canadian Business
The Jenkins Report on the effectiveness of $6.5 Billion spent annually in federal programs to support business R&D and innovation, calls for a “rebalancing” away from R&D tax credits - in favour of the increased use if “direct” funding for business. It also recommends a centralization of program delivery, a dismantling and transition of key NRC Institutes and programs such as IRAP, and enhanced roles for the Business Development Bank of Canada and government procurement in supporting Canadian SMEs. Would these recommendations assist Canadian business to conduct more research and innovation activity? The panel will explore these issues.

Moderator
David B. Watters
President
Global Advantage Consulting Group Inc.
David Watters worked for 30 years in the federal government as a senior executive and Assistant Deputy Minister in a variety of Economic Ministries including Industry Canada, Treasury Board and Finance Canada. He was the Assistant Deputy Minister in Finance Canada for Economic Development and Corporate Finance, where he helped to shape the economic and innovation investments in five federal Budgets. David then established the Global Advantage Consulting Group Inc. (Ottawa) and is the President of this strategic management consulting firm. The firm provides advice to corporate, association, and government clients in Canada and abroad about strategy development, innovative business models, the design and management of commercial networks, and enhanced decision-making, particularly in the areas of new technology investments, innovation/commercialization, trade, and energy/climate change projects, programs and policy.

David holds an Economics degree from Queen’s University as well as a Law degree in corporate, commercial and tax law from Queen’s Law School. He was also an adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa Management School for seven years teaching International Negotiation to MBA students.

Celine Bak
Partner
Russel Mitchel Group
Céline Bak is an internationally recognized author, speaker and consultant on clean technology and on innovation and commercialization. She published and authored a ground-breaking national report on clean technology and on commercialization – the 2010 SDTC Cleantech Growth & Go-to-Market Report. Also published by her firm, the 2011 Canadian Clean Technology Industry Report builds on the 2010 baseline data set for Canada’s multibillion dollar clean technology industry that Analytica Advisors projects has the potential to attain $60 billion in annual revenues by 2020.

She is the co-founder of the Canadian Clean Technology Coalition that was struck to create the conditions required to make Canada’s clean technology industry an driver of Canada’s economic and energy productivity as well as an enabler for Canada’s green house gas reduction targets. Céline sits on the Clean Tech Advisory Board for the Department of Foreign Affairs and is a technical advisor to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy for Climate Prosperity. She was the co-chair of the 2011 Canadian Cleantech Summit and sits on the nominations committee for the Canada Clean50. She is the chair of the Canada-Brazil Working Group for Clean Technology and Green Energy. She resides in Ottawa with her husband and three daughters.

Michael Turner
Vice President, System Strategies
Wesley Clover International
Wesley Clover International, based in Ottawa, Canada, is an investment & management firm with interests in leading edge information technology & communications companies, digital media, real estate and resort properties. As a member of the executive team Michael Turner provides strategic advice and support on technology issues and government innovation policy. In addition to his work with Wesley Clover, Michael also provides consulting services in these domains as well as in the use of Information & Communications Technologies within government, in Canada and internationally. Prior to joining Wesley Clover, Michael spent much of his career with the Canadian Federal Government, most recently as a senior official accountable for executive leadership and management of ICT operations for the Canadian Federal Government’s common services agency, Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC). He also served for a time as the Departmental CIO. During this period, Mr. Turner was a key member of the team responsible for Canada’s success in implementing Internet based e-Government services for its citizens and businesses.

Mr. Turner spent 25 years with the Canadian Coast Guard prior to his responsibilities at PWGSC. While with the Coast Guard. Michael served in a series of engineering and management positions of increasing responsibility. This included representing Canada for several years on various technical committees and then the Governing Council of the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization, based in London. For several years, Mr. Turner was the Deputy Commissioner - Canadian Coast Guard. Since leaving the public service, his consulting and advisory work has included projects, workshops and presentations in Australia, S.E. Asia, Africa, Europe, India and Ottawa. He has also participated in the development and delivery of an ICT and e-Government management training program for developing country governments. In 2008, Mr. Turner was a member of the City of Ottawa’s ‘Mayor’s Task Force on e-Government’, the recommendations from which are currently being implemented.

Dan Clow, Ph.D
Director Policy, Advocacy and Alliances Development
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Dr. Dan Clow leads the internal Policy Team at GSK focusing on health, industrial, pharmaceutical and biologics policy at the National level and through cross-functional efforts at the Federal, Provincial and Territorial levels. He also oversees a national field-based team serving as GSK’s point of contact for patient advocacy groups and professional organizations (including medical associations and societies). Dan completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Queen’s University, graduating with his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 1988. His neuroscience research interests led him to subsequently complete a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Upon returning to Canada in 1990 he joined the pharmaceutical industry in a medical affairs capacity. Dan joined Glaxo Wellcome (now GSK) in 1996 and spent 10 years in the Government Affairs and Private Payer arena. In 2006, he joined the Medical Division where he managed the respiratory business serving as a strategic scientific partner to the marketing division and managing the respiratory collaborative research trials with Canadian scientists and clinicians. In late 2008, he returned to the Public Affairs Division to take on the policy assignment. In 2011 his role and team was expanded to include the mandate for managing relationships with patient advocacy groups and professional organizations.

Dan is a founding member and past chair of the Group Insurance Pharmaceutical Collaborative (GIPC) and recipient of the Rogers Who’s Who in Healthcare for his work in private sector and employer-based health management. He is currently a member of both the Policy and Stakeholder Relations Committees at Rx&D.

6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Opening Ceremonies
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Keynote Panel - Big Picture Perspective on Science & Innovation Policy
With continuing uncertainty about the global economy and with persistent public policy challenges that respect no borders, science and innovation policy is of increasing importance for governments and organizations across Canada and around the world. How do leaders from various perspectives view the "big picture"? What are the key challenges and opportunities in the decade ahead and how can science, technology and innovation help to address them? How can states improve the performance of their science, technology and innovation systems to ensure better health outcomes, a safe and secure environment, and sustainable prosperity for their citizens? How are macro-decisions on the state of science and innovation policy being made, and what foundations can support efficient national innovation systems.

Introductions
Dr. Suzanne Fortier
President
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Dr. Suzanne Fortier has served as President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) since January 2006. She was re-appointed to this position in November 2010. During her first five years, Dr. Fortier brought a renewed focus on excellence to the agency. Changes to NSERC’s funding structure ensure that the best researchers receive the funding they need to conduct world-class research. NSERC now engages more closely with industries to initiate research and development projects with academic partners. Dr. Fortier has also forged stronger relationships with other federal granting agencies and organizations to increase the number and scope of joint initiatives available to researchers. For example, a collaboration between National Research Council Canada, Business Development Bank of Canada and NSERC resulted in an ambitious new national initiative in nanotechnology.

Before her appointment to this position, Dr. Fortier held a number of senior research and administrative positions at Queen’s University. She joined Queen's University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry in 1982 after holding research positions at the Medical Foundation of Buffalo and National Research Council Canada. She then served as Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Acting Vice-Principal (Research), and Associate Dean in the School of Graduate Studies and Research before being appointed Vice-Principal (Research) in 1995. Most recently (2000-05), she was Vice-Principal (Academic).

Moderator
Véronique Morin
Science Journalist
Tele-Quebec
Véronique Morin is a journalist in both print and television with over 20 years experience who believes strongly that Science should have an important place in daily newscasts. She is currently working as science journalist for the science magazine program « Le Code Chastenay » on the public network Tele-Quebec, writing freelance magazine articles, as well as developing a documentary project. Recently (idea and research) her documentary “Time Bombs”, about Canadian veterans who have participated in atomic bomb tests, received the awards of « Best documentary” from the New York International Independent Film and Video festival, « Best Documentary » from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and Veronique was nominated for “Best research” at the Gemeaux awards 2008. Veronique Morin was president of the Canadian Science Writers' Association (CSWA) from 2001-2005.

She was elected the first president of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) from 2002-2004. She also serves as a judge on numerous awards recognizing excellence in journalism.

Rémi Quirion, OC, Ph.D., CQ, FRSC
Chief Scientist & Chariman of the Board
Fonds de recherche du Québec
On September 1, 2011, Rémi Quirion, OC, PhD, CQ, FRSC, became Québec's first chief scientist. As such, he chairs the boards of directors of the three Fonds de recherche du Québec and advises the Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade on research and scientific development issues. Until his appointment as chief scientist, Rémi Quirion was the vice-dean for science and strategic initiatives in the faculty of medicine at McGill University and senior university advisor on health sciences research. He was the scientific director of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Centre, a full professor in the department of psychiatry at McGill University and the executive director of the International Collaborative Research Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Professor Quirion was the first scientific director of the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), one of Canada's 13 health research institutes.

His work helped to elucidate the roles of the cholinergic system in Alzheimer's disease, of neuropeptide Y in depression and memory and of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in pain and opiate tolerance. Rémi Quirion earned his PhD in pharmacology from Université de Sherbrooke in 1980 and carried out his postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States in 1983. He has over 650 publications in prominent scientific journals and is one of the most extensively cited neuroscientists in the world. He has received several awards and honours, including the Ordre national du Québec (Chevalier du Québec, CQ) in 2003, the Prix Wilder-Penfield (Prix du Québec) in 2004 and the Order of Canada (OC) in 2007. Mr. Quirion is also a member of the Royal Society of Canada.

Ian Chubb
Chief Scientist
Australian Government
Professor Ian Chubb was appointed to the position of Chief Scientist on 19 April 2011 and commenced the role on 23 May 2011. Prior to his appointment as Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb was Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University from January 2001 to February 2011. He was Vice-Chancellor of Flinders University of South Australia for six years and the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Monash University for two years while simultaneously the Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics for 16 months.

In 1999 Professor Chubb was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “service to the development of higher education policy and its implementation at state, national and international levels, as an administrator in the tertiary education sector, and to research particularly in the field of neuroscience”. In 2006 he was made a Companion (AC) in the order for “service to higher education, including research and development policy in the pursuit of advancing the national interest socially, economically, culturally and environmentally, and to the facilitation of a knowledge-based global economy”. In 2000, Professor Chubb was awarded a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from Flinders University. He was made the ACT’s Australian of the Year in 2011 for his contribution to higher education.

R. Peter MacKinnon
President, University of Saskatchewan
& member of the STIC State of the Nation Working Group
Originally from Prince Edward Island, Peter MacKinnon has lived in Saskatoon since 1975. He previously served the University of Saskatchewan as Dean of Law and Acting Vice-President (Academic) and was appointed President of the University in July, 1999. Educated at the University of Saskatchewan, Queen's and Dalhousie, Mr. MacKinnon articled in Kingston and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1975 and to the Law Society of Saskatchewan in 1979. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1990. He is currently a member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee on the Public Service; a member of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council of Canada; a member of the Board of the Saskatoon Airport Authority; a former Chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and has been a Chair or member of several public service boards, councils and committees since his appointment as president.

Recent awards include honorary degrees from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Regina and the Canadian Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award in Saskatchewan (2005). Peter MacKinnon is currently serving his third term as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan.

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Mingling Politics and Science Reception
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm
DUST

Thursday, November 17, 2011

7:30 am - 8:30 am
Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 am - 8:40 am
Welcome Address
Jim Roche
President & Chief Executive Officer
CANARIE Inc.
Jim was appointed President and CEO of CANARIE in February 2010. He is a successful entrepreneur with over twenty-five years of leadership experience, having been a founding member and General Manager at Newbridge Networks Corporation (now Alcatel-Lucent), a co-founder and CEO of Tundra Semiconductor (now IDT), the CEO of CMC Microsystems and the founder and CEO of Stratford Managers, a company he continues to lead. In addition to his corporate duties, he also serves on numerous boards and committees including the ICT Advisory Board for DFAIT, the Committee of Research Partnerships for NSERC, the Expert Panel on Business Innovation for CCA and others. He is also an Executive-in-Residence at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa and is frequently called on to speak about entrepreneurship, commercialization of innovation, and strategy development.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Queen’s University, where he graduated at the top of his class and won multiple scholarships. He has added to his management skills through intensive programs at Stanford, Ivey, Queen’s and elsewhere.

8:40 am - 10:10 am
Building Stronger Communities Through Innovation
How do we build innovative communities? This is a central challenge for Canada in the 21st century since innovative communities form the foundation of a prosperous country. As more than a decade of research on industry clusters has shown, a robust innovation system can have a profoundly positive impact on local communities when it translates into high quality jobs, industrial growth, new enterprises, improved public infrastructure and services and a cleaner, healthier environment. But building innovation into our communities takes the involvement of individuals and institutions across the spectrum of society. Universities, colleges, research hospitals, private companies, governments and non-profit agencies, along with the talented, creative people that work in these organizations, must be free to work together and share their knowledge and ideas. Yet fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange between different organizations, with different interests and capacities can be challenging. Successful collaboration requires time, resources, communication, shared goals, commitment and risk-taking.

A panel of leading Canadian thinkers in inter-sectoral and inter-organizational collaboration will discuss how university and college researchers can work with local businesses to translate new knowledge into new creative products and beneficial services. They will look at the role of research hospitals in contributing to both the health and wealth of local communities. And they will discuss best practices in overcoming the institutional and cultural barriers to collaboration.

Chair
Gilles G. Patry, Ph.D
President and CEO
Canada Foundation for Innovation
On August 1, 2010, Dr. Gilles G. Patry became the fourth President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Following a long and distinguished career as a consultant, a researcher, and a university administrator, Dr. Patry brings to the CFI a wealth of experience from both the private and academic sector .

Dr. Patry holds a B.A.Sc. and M.A.Sc. in civil engineering from the University of Ottawa, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in environmental engineering. He was an environmental engineering consultant (1971-78) before becoming professor of civil engineering at École Polytechnique de Montréal (1978-83) and then at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. (1983-93). Dr. Patry’s research program at McMaster led him to develop an innovative modelling concept for the simulation of wastewater treatment plant dynamics, and ultimately, to launch a Hamilton-based consulting company, Hydromantis, Inc. His research focuses on modelling, simulation and control of environmental systems.

Chair
Marie Carter, FEC, P.Eng
Chief Operating Officer
Engineers Canada
Marie is the chief operating officer of Engineers Canada. For seven years, she was the organization’s director of professional and international affairs and secretary to its Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board and International Committee. Her work includes ensuring the implementation of Engineers Canada’s Strategic Plan, which includes activities related to the development and maintenance of national qualification standards for admission to, and the practice of, professional engineering in Canada international activities to enhance the mobility of Canadian engineers. Marie also ensures proper management of resources, distribution of products and services to Engineers Canada’s members and that business operations run smoothly. Marie has also been responsible for projects to increase the recognition of foreign credentials for internationally-educated engineering graduates.

Prior to joining Engineers Canada in April 2001, Marie worked for 13 years in transportation engineering consulting and carried out various environmental assessment studies. Marie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1989.

Respondent and Facilitator
Chad Gaffield, Ph.D
President
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Chad Gaffield, one of Canada’s foremost historians, was appointed president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) on September 18, 2006. Gaffield came to SSHRC from the University of Ottawa, where he held a University Research Chair and was the founding director of the Institute of Canadian Studies. During his 20-year University of Ottawa career, he also served as vice-dean of graduate studies and on the executive committee of the board of governors. He is a former president of the Canadian Historical Association and the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Dr. Kevin Smith
President and CEO
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
& St Joseph's Lifecare Centre Brantford
Dr. Smith is President and CEO of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and St Joseph's Lifecare Centre Brantford since 2009; and CEO of St Mary's General Hospital Kitchener-all members of the St Joseph's Health System. He is also Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine - Faculty of Health Sciences of McMaster University. Dr. Smith's experience also includes work and training in the areas of medical curricula development, management training for academic health professionals, performance and incentives models for enhanced creativity and productivity and numerous roles in both University and Teaching Hospitals. Dr. Smith is currently co-leading the Government's Emergency Department and Alternate Level of Care initiative, and is also playing a leadership role in the Premier's delegations to China. Dr. Smith also contributes as chair or member of various Provincial and National bodies as well as various private and philanthropic Boards.

Fred Morley
Executive VP & Chief Economist
Greater Halifax Partnership
Fred Morley is Executive Vice-President and Chief Economist of the Greater Halifax Partnership since 2002, an organization focused on retaining and expanding existing business and bringing new investment to Halifax. A former professor at Saint Mary’s University, Fred Morley has also served as senior economic advisor to the Government of Nova Scotia, senior policy analyst at the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, and as senior manager at Nova Scotia Business Inc. He serves as a member of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the boards of the International Economic Development Council in Washington DC, the Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Saint Mary’s Business Development Centre. He holds undergraduate degrees in chemistry and economics from Dalhousie University and did graduate work at Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s University.

Fassi Kafyeke
Director, Strategic Technology
Bombardier Aerospace
Fassi Kafyeke joined Bombardier Aerospace in 1982. In 1996, he became Manager of Advanced Aerodynamics. As Chief Aerodynamicist, he was responsible for aerodynamic design and development wind tunnel testing for all Bombardier Jets (Global Express, CRJ-700, 900 and 1000, Challenger 300, C-Series. In 2007, he became Director of Strategic Technology, in charge of all engineering research and development activities of the company. He has several publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and is the author of a book on Computational Fluid Dynamics. In 2001, he was the recipient of the Grand Prix d’Excellence of the Order of Engineers of Québec. In 1980, Dr. Kafyeke graduated from the University of Liege (Belgium) with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. The following year he completed his Master’s degree in Air Transport Engineering at the Cranfield Institute of Technology (England) and in 1994, he received his Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering (Aerodynamics) from École Polytechnique de Montréal.

Hon. Mike Harcourt
Lawyer, Community Activist, and former BC Premier
Mike Harcourt is a former Premier of British Columbia, Mayor of Vancouver and City Councillor. He is a passionate believer in the power of cities and communities to improve the human condition. As such, as a speaker, author and advisor internationally on sustainable cities, he was appointed to serve on numerous committees, namely as Chair of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee for Cities and Communities, Co-chair the National Advisory Committee on the UN-HABITAT World Urban Forum, and as a member of the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy. Mr. Harcourt’s exemplary career as Lawyer, Community Activist, and Politician has been honoured, with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, the Canadian Urban Institute’s Jane Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award and the UBC Alumni Achievement Award of Distinction for contributions to British Columbia, Canada and the global community.

10:10 am - 10:30 am
Coffee Break
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
The Role of K* in Strengthening Science-Policy Integration
This fast-paced and interactive session will begin with short (~3-minute) presentations by each panelist, followed by two sets of round-table discussions among participants and each of the six panelists, and a short wrap-up segment. Knowledge translation and brokering (KT-KB) are part of an increasingly-recognized spectrum of knowledge transfer approaches that can significantly contribute to strengthened science-policy integration. The “K*” concept was first discussed at Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC) 2010 in Montreal and encapsulates the variety of terms used by practitioners in this field, including Knowledge Translation, Brokering, Management, Mobilization, Transfer, Adoption etc. These K* approaches recognize the need for active engagement across the science-policy spectrum, and for careful consideration of users’ information needs, preferred format, time frame and communication mechanisms. K* approaches are increasingly being adopted in a variety of fields, including health, environmental sustainability, education, agriculture and international development. Building on the successful one-day KT-KB workshop held during CSPC 2010, this year’s panel will engage the broader CSPC community and:

Provide insight into this active, emerging field;
Showcase practical and tangible examples of the value and power of KT-KB and other K* approaches in Canada and internationally;
Develop the theme of demonstrating the impacts of Knowledge Mobilization activities;
Be a waypoint for the first international K* Summit in 2012, and subsequent development of a multi-sectoral forum and White Paper for K* issues nationally and internationally.

Convenor
Alex T. Bielak, Ph.D
Senior Fellow and Knowledge Broker
United Nations University
Dr. Alex Bielak is a member of the faculty at the United Nations University and also serves as Senior Advisor to the Chair of UN-Water. As Senior Research Fellow and Knowledge Broker in the freshwater programme at the UNU’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH, the U.N. Think Tank on Water) Alex also leads a new Knowledge Management and Mobilization (K*) initiative for the Institute. Previously Alex was Environment Canada’s first-ever Director, Science and Technology Liaison with a mission of communicating science knowledge to targeted audiences and linking science with policy development. Before that he spent over a year as A/Director General, S&T Strategies Directorate, where he set up the Directorate and led the team developing EC's new Science Plan. A NATO Scholar, he has also held senior positions with Canada’s National Water Research Institute, NGOs, and other federal and provincial government departments.

Alex holds a PhD degree in Freshwater Biology from the University of Waterloo and has served on numerous National and International Boards and Committees. Recently appointed as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and Multi-Media at McMaster University, recognition of his professional and volunteer activities includes a UW Science Faculty “Distinguished Alumni Award” on the occasion of UW’s 50th Anniversary and appointment as the first Honorary Member of the Canadian Rivers Institute in 2011.

Convenor
Shannon deGraaf
Senior Science Policy Analyst, S&T Liaison
Environment Canada
Shannon joined Environment Canada’s S&T Liaison team as a Science-Policy Analyst in January 2009. Shannon’s work with S&T Liaison has focused on communicating science activities and results to various decision-making audiences including senior management, practitioners and policy communities; contributing to best practices in science-policy linkages through the development of the Strengthening Science-Policy Linkages Study Series; and highlighting the role of knowledge translation and brokering tools in federal science-based departments and agencies through the development of an Interdepartmental Compendium of KT-KB Tools. Prior to joining S&T Liaison Shannon has had more than ten years of experience in Environment Canada’s Great Lakes Program with a focus on outreach. Shannon has a degree in Environmental Studies from Brock University.

Amanda Cooper
KNAER Program Manager, Research & Knowledge Mobilization
and RSPE Research & Program Coordinator
Amanda Cooper specializes in research-practice-policy relationships. Her interests professionally and academically revolve around improving research use in public services. Currently, she is managing the Knowledge Network for Applied Education Research (KNAER), www.knaer-recrae.ca, an ambitious effort to improve knowledge mobilization in education across Ontario. Amanda has also been the coordinator for the Research Supporting Practice in Education program at OISE, www.oise.utoronto.ca/rspe, since its inception in 2007. There is growing awareness that research mediation by intermediary organizations is integral to knowledge mobilization. Amanda’s doctoral research analyzes efforts made by 44 knowledge mobilization intermediaries (third party, research brokering organizations) that facilitate linkages between research producing contexts and research using contexts to increase research use and its impact in education across Canada. She provides talks, workshops and consulting on knowledge mobilization for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, intermediaries and other organizations across sectors.

Katrina Hitchman, Ph.D
Manager of Strategic Programs
Canadian Water Network
After finishing her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree at Mount Allison University, Katrina completed her master’s and PhD degrees in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Waterloo. Katrina joined the Canadian Water Network in February 2009 to assist in the development and management of CWN partnership-based programs, particularly the evolving research consortia. Katrina conducted a comparative organizational analysis examining the organizational structure and functions of Canadian and international organizations that share CWN’s mandate of using research to inform practice and policy. As CWN continues to explore consortia-based models for putting its research to work, she will focus on the development of knowledge translation tools for researchers and research users, evaluating the success of CWN programs, and pursing opportunities to enhance CWN’s profile as a leading knowledge translation and brokering organization.

David Phipps, Ph.D
Director, Research Services & Knowledge Exchange
York University/ResearchImpact
ResearchImpact

David is responsible for the management and support of research services (research grants and contracts, research ethics, technology and knowledge transfer); participates in strategic planning; negotiates research contracts and grants, manages research data and develops research performance measurements; ensures compliance with government policies and the University mandate.

Louise Shaxson
Senior Research Fellow, RAPID
Overseas Development Institute (UK)
& Associate, Delta Partnership
Louise is a senior research fellow at the Overseas Development Institute, UK’s leading think tank on international development; and an associate of Delta Partnership, an international management consultancy company based in London. Her particular area of interest is evidence-based policymaking and the links between knowledge and policy. She has authored and provided guidance on the provision of expert scientific advice to senior policy officials, what constitutes robust evidence for policy making, advised on horizon scanning projects and has published several journal articles and book chapters relating to evidence-based policy making. She has co-authored a forthcoming book on Knowledge, policy and power in international development: a practical guide which will be published by The Policy Press/University of Chicago Press in 2012.

Over the past few years, Louise became acquainted with a group of Canadians who shared her interested in evidence-based policy and, in particular, knowledge translation and brokering. Most recently, she was involved with CSPC where she gave a presentation on the distribution of responsibility in policy delivery and relating issues at the Canadian Science Policy Conference in Montreal last October.

Global Implications of Open and Inclusive Innovation
The context of innovation is being transformed by the growing ubiquity of affordable technologies, such as mobiles, even in the most remote parts of the world. In a June 4 2011 New York Times article, Thomas Friedman indicated that “Carlson’s Law” was an important consequence of these changes: “In a world where so many people now have access to education and cheap tools of innovation, innovation that happens from the bottom up tends to be chaotic but smart. Innovation that happens from the top down tends to be orderly but dumb,” observes Curtis Carlson, the CEO of SRI International. As a result, he says, the sweet spot for innovation today is “moving down,” closer to the people, not up, because all the people together are smarter than anyone alone and all the people now have the tools to invent and collaborate.” In emerging economies, new business models and innovative forms of entrepreneurship are flourishing, particularly in the informal sectors. What can Canada learn from these innovations? How should science policies respond? This panel will attempt to inform debates about the relationship between science policy, intellectual property regimes, changing technological platforms and private sector innovation. To do so, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the organizer of this panel will bring together experts from Canada, Brazil, South Africa and India to discuss emerging evidence on these issues, as well as recommendations for decision-makers.
Moderator

Matthew Smith
Program Officer
International Development Research Centre, Canada
Matthew Smith oversees research on the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to foster sustainable development and socio- economic equity at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a Canadian crown corporation. Before joining IDRC, Smith did postgraduate research on the interaction between technology and society, in particular the impact of e-government systems on citizens’ trust in the government of Chile. He has published on this subject and others, including the concept of openness to broaden access and inclusion. Smith holds a PhD in information systems and an MSc in development studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science (England), as well as an MSc in artificial intelligence from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland).

Sunil Abraham
Executive Director
Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), India
Sunil Abraham is the Executive Director of the Centre for Internet and Society in Bangalore India. He founded Mahiti in 1998 which aims to reduce the cost and complexity of Information and Communication Technology for the Voluntary Sector by using Free Software. Today, Mahiti employs more than 50 engineers and Sunil continues to serve on the board. Between June 2004 and June 2007, Sunil also managed the International Open Source Network a project of United Nations Development Programme's Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme serving 42 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Jeremy De Beer
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law
University of Ottawa
Jeremy is an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law. His expertise is in the area of technology and intellectual property law. He has a graduate degree in law from the University of Oxford, and degrees in business and in law from the University of Saskatchewan. His research and recent publications address topics ranging from digital copyrights to biotechnology patents, with particular emphasis on the intersection of technology, intellectual property and international development.

Pria Chetty
Associate Director
Technology and Innovation Law, PricewaterhouseCoopers, South Africa
Pria Chetty is the Associate Director, Technology and Innovation Law at PricewaterhouseCoopers in South Africa. She completed her law degree in 2000 and went on to specialise in Electronic and Intellectual Property Law . She is the founder of Technology and Innovation Law Firm, Chetty Law, in South Africa, which has provided legal and strategic advisory services to a wide range of clients including public sector agencies, NGO’s, local and internationally listed companies and South Africa’s most innovative entrepreneurs. She was identified as one of the Brightest Young Minds in South Africa and later, in 2006, featured in Maverick magazine as one of five young attorneys making their mark in legal practice in South Africa.

Science Culture, Organized and Prioritized: Three National and International Initiatives
Culture is big: annually, some 290 million citizens actively participate in the exhibitions, programs, events and outreach initiatives organized by 2,400 science centres worldwide. Other types of institutions, radio, internet, and film build further on that reach. This session will examine three recent initiatives that seek to organize, define, and take strategic advantage of the work of hundreds of diverse science engagement and knowledge creation organisations nationally and internationally. Increasingly, strategic focus among this diverse set of content and communication partners is bringing new attention to science engagement for the benefit of national and global society.
This session will examine Inspiring Australia, an initiative of the Australian government to create regional networks of diverse engagement organizations and connect them effectively with the science knowledge creators in order to better execute science engagement in that country. We will also examine a initiative to benchmark "science culture" in order to better measure future progress . And finally we will examine a global initiative by science centres to use science engagement in a truly global context.

Moderator
Tracy Ross
Executive Director
Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC)
Tracy Ross is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Science Centres, the national network that serves more than 45 charitable science centres, science museums and similar organisations that inspire 8 million people annually with learning experiences in science. The association is a national platform for collaboration, networking and tackling common issues. In May 2012, the association will be holding its 10th annual conference in Ottawa hosted by the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation. Tracy graduated from Queen’s University at Kingston in 1996 with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Environmental Chemistry, and from the University of Toronto in 2000 with a Master’s degree in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. She got her start with science centres as a host at the Ontario Science Centre where she delivered a variety of lively demonstrations, developed a new tabletop experience, and facilitated learning with visitors of all ages. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Science and Technology Awareness Network and the steering committee for National Science and Technology Week. She lives in Ottawa, where, as an avid sailor, she also serves on the Board of Directors of the Nepean Sailing Club.

Lesley Lewis
Chief Executive Officer
Ontario Science Centre
Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Science Centre since 1998, Lesley Lewis has led a major evolution of the landmark cultural attraction. Under Ms Lewis’ leadership over the past decade, the Science Centre has significantly renewed two thirds of its public spaces focusing on embracing new audiences, engaging visitors of all ages with science, scientists and innovation as well as incorporating current science news into daily offerings. From 2000 to 2006. Ms. Lewis spearheaded the Centre’s $47.5 million Agents of Change transformation.

As CEO, Ms. Lewis has sharpened the organization’s focus on extending its brand, audience reach and relevance. The Science Centre introduced an array of programs designed to ensure accessibility to all members of the community.

She is a respected member of the international science centre community, and has been active in global forums describing the Ontario Science Centre’s evolution into a new model for public engagement with science.

Ms Lewis is an invited member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Committee on Science and Technology Engagement with the Public. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Tourism Toronto. From 2007 to 2009, she was President of the global Association of Science Technology Centers based in Washington D.C. She was a member of the China Association for Science and Technology’s international advisory committee for a new science and technology museum in Beijing that opened in 2009 and Chair of the Fifth Science Centre World Congress which was hosted by the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto in 2008. In that capacity she led the development of the Toronto Declaration, the science centre field’s first-ever shared global statement of beliefs and goals.

Prior to joining the Ontario Science Centre, Ms. Lewis was the Executive Director of the Ontario Heritage Foundation for six years and for three years Executive Director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Denise Amyot
President and CEO
Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation
Denise Amyot is currently, President and CEO of the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation whose mandate is to foster scientific and technological literacy throughout the country. The Corporation and its three museums – the Canada Agriculture Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum – tell the stories of Canadian ingenuity and achievement in science and technology.

She has worked both in National Headquarters and in regions in several federal departments including central agencies, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, National Defense, Natural Resources Canada, and Canadian Heritage. In her former three roles as Assistant Deputy Minister, she was respectively responsible for leading and managing leadership development programs and developing policies for employees and executives throughout the public Service of Canada, the corporate management services, as well as public affairs and ministerial services. She has worked extensively in policy and line operations in the context of programs and service delivery, in social, economic, and cultural areas. She also worked for few years with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Ms Amyot is the former President of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, Vice-President of the Head of Federal Agencies Steering Committee, and member of the Board of Governors at the Ottawa University and at the Algonquin College. She is the former President of the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada and former President of the Communications Community Office. Ms Amyot has obtained a Master's degree in Education and three Bachelor degrees in Biology, in Arts and in Education.

11:30 am - 1:30 pm
CANARIE Showcase & Exhibitor Tours
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Lunch
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm
Special Keynote Address by the Minister of State (Science and Technology)
Join the The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Member of Parliament for Cambridge & North Dumfries, and Minister of State (Science and Technology).

Hon. Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
Member of Parliament for Cambridge & North Dumfries
1:20 pm - 2:50 pm
Funding Innovation, Measuring Societal Impacts and Informing Science Policy
A major challenge for Canadian science policy is related to what areas of science to invest in, how best to make budget allocations that will address the needs of society while benefiting the Canadian economy, and then assessing the impact of those investments. As health care costs continue to rise, there are ongoing efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the health system. Research is recognized as a valuable investment to optimize the delivery and provision of health care, with nearly one quarter of Canada’s R&D spend, but is an incremental and iterative endeavor. The pathway from research to improved health and systems is neither linear nor simple. The complexity is amplified by the multitude of players involved; researchers, industry health care providers, policy makers, and the public. Research funders recognize the need for greater collaboration in providing innovative solutions to understanding how investments in health research make a difference to the health and wellbeing of Canadians. Consequently, this symposium brings together presenters from three Canadian research funding organizations, an academic Institution and one non-profit think tank.
Our panel examines methodologies used to analyze and demonstrate research impact. These methodologies are helping to elucidate and clarify the various pathways through which health research leads to societal wellbeing. The panel moderator will engage participants in the discussion with an aim to advance the science of impact assessment such that it will meet the needs of science policy and justify science spending to the public.

Moderator
Pierre Therrien
Director Market Structure & Framework Policy Analysis
Industry Canada
Pierre Therrien is Director, Market Structure and Framework Policy Analysis at Industry Canada within the Economic Research and Policy Analysis (ERPA) Branch. Prior to join ERPA, Pierre worked for several years in another sector within Industry Canada in the Science and Innovation Sector, where he led several projects related to the measurement science and innovation impact measures. Pierre also spent two years at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, France, where he coordinated several projects to develop new policy-relevant indicators related to government public support to R&D.

Laura McAuley
Manager, Impact Assessment Unit
Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Laura McAuley, MSc. is the Manager of the Impact Assessment Unit at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She led the initial implementation of the CIHR impact assessment framework and now continues to lead the ongoing refinement and methodological development in this area at CIHR. Laura has worked in the area of health research evaluation for the past seven years building on previous experience working in academic health research spanning the four pillars.

Kathryn E. Graham
Director, Performance Management
Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions
Kathryn E. Graham, Ph.D. is the Director of the Performance Management Department at Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions located in Alberta. Her experience is in the development, implementation and management of evaluation frameworks and conducting evaluations of health and research at the level of the program, organization and at multi-sites. She has a Ph.D. in applied psychology from the University of Cranfield, England with a specialization in occupational psychology, measurement, evaluation and human factors.

Ghislaine Tremblay
Director of Evaluation and Outcome Assessment
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Ghislaine Tremblay is the Director of Evaluation and Outcome Assessment at the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Over more than a decade she has held a variety of leadership roles in managing S&T funding programs and brings this broad expertise to the evaluation team that she leads. In her current role, Ms Tremblay has overseen the development of the Performance, Evaluation, Risk and Audit Framework, the Overall Performance and Value for Money Audit and outcome measurement study methodology and implementation.

Eddy Nason
Director, Toronto Office
IOG
Eddy Nason is the Director of the IOG’s Toronto office and their lead on health and innovation policy work. He specializes in research evaluation, particularly focusing on ROI approaches, and research impact framework and indicator development. He has advised research funders in the UK, Netherlands, Ireland, Australia and Canada on impact evaluation.

Education and Training of Scientists
Over the past 15 years, there has been an enormous shift in the human resources performing scientific research. The training period has lengthened significantly and adjustments must be made to address the growing concerns of young scientists. Many individuals, who do not have permanent positions, share a unique set of experiences and challenges that need to be better addressed in order to avoid wasting the substantial resources invested in their education and training.
This panel aims to address two main themes:
1. Are we producing too many biomedical research trainees?
2. What careers will the large majority of highly specialized PhDs undertake and who should facilitate these transitions?
Presentations and discussion from Alan Bernstein (Founding Director of CIHR), Angela Crawley (Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars), Suzanne Fortier (President of NSERC), and Olga Stachova (COO, MITACS) will be introduced and moderated by David Kent (University of Cambridge and founder of http://scienceadvocacy.org).

Moderator
David Kent , Ph.D
CIHR Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Cambridge
Dr. David Kent is a CIHR postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cambridge, UK. He currently sits on the executive of the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars and created the website The Black Hole which provides information on and analysis of issues related to science trainees in Canada. Previously, Dr. Kent served as joint coordinator for the UBC branch of the Let’s Talk Science Partnership Program (2004-07), an award winning national science outreach program. Dr. Kent grew up in St. John’s, NL, obtained a B.Sc. in Genetics and English Literature at the University of Western Ontario and completed his Ph.D. in blood stem cell biology at the University of British Columbia. He has been awarded scholarships or fellowships from the CIHR, NSERC, the Canadian Stem Cell Network, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and the Lady Tata Memorial Trust. His current laboratory research focuses on normal blood stem cells and how changes in their regulation lead to cancers.

Dr. Angela Crawley
Vice-Chair of Operations
Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars
Dr. Angela M. Crawley received a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University (’99) and then earned a Ph.D.in the Dept. of Pathobiology at the University of Guelph. Her doctorate addressed the regulation of immune responses in pigs, for the eventual improvement of vaccination strategies. In 2004, Angela moved to Ottawa to work as postdoctoral fellow (PDF) in Dr. Jonathan B. Angel’s laboratory at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), partnered with the University of Ottawa. Angela is researching anti-viral mechanisms of human immune response in the context of HIV infection. Dr. Crawley held a postdoctoral fellowship award from the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN). She will begin her appointment as an Assistant Scientist at the OHRI and an Assistant Professor in April 2012 (to be funded by an OHTN Junior Investigator Development Award). While a postdoc, Angela was one of the founders of the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine Postdoc Association (2006, president 2007-09) and she also founded the uOttawa Postdoc Association (2009, president 2009-10). Angela was awarded a Postdoctoral Award of Excellence by uOttawa’s Faculty of Medicine (2007) recognizing scientific achievement and community involvement. Angela is also a member of a National Postdoc Stakeholders Working Group compiling recommended policies for the fair and equitable treatment of postdocs across Canada. She has attended some postdoc-related conferences including the 7th Annual Meeting of the National Postdoctoral Association (Houston, TX, USA, 2009) and, as a former president of the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (CAPS), was an invited speaker for at the Annual Canadian Association of Graduate Studies meeting (Toronto, Nov. 2010). Angela is currently the Vice-Chair of Operations for CAPS.

Olga Stachova
Chief Operating Officer
Mitacs
Olga Stachova joined Mitacs in October 2000 and plays a key role in the organization's success. As Chief Operating Officer, her responsibilities include oversight of the overall operations and management, responsibility for delivery strategy for all Mitacs programs, their implementation, ongoing evaluation and monitoring, as well as allocation of Mitacs resources, human resources management and oversight of budgetary expenditures.

Olga has a Master’s Degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, Slovakia. Prior to emigrating to Canada, she was Senior Project Manager at Management Partners, the leading company in the Slovak HR market. She was highly successful in her role of recruiting personnel for international organizations opening subsidiaries in Slovakia.

Olga is the recipient of the 2009 Business in Vancouver Forty under 40 Award.

Dr. Alan Bernstein
Founding President
CIHR 2000-2007
Dr. Alan Bernstein is the former executive director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, an international alliance of researchers and funders charged with accelerating the search for an HIV vaccine. Previously, he served as the founding president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2000-2007), Canada’s national agency for the support of health research. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, and following postdoctoral work at the ICRF in London, Dr. Bernstein joined the Ontario Cancer Institute (1974-1985). In 1985, he joined the new Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute in Toronto, was named its Associate Director in 1988 and then its Director of Research (1994-2000). Author of over 200 scientific publications, Dr. Bernstein has made extensive contributions to the study of stem cells, hematopoiesis and cancer. He chairs or is a member of advisory and review boards in Canada, the US, UK, and Australia. Dr. Bernstein has received numerous awards and honourary degrees for his contributions to science, including the 2007 Medaille du merite from the Institut de Recherche Clinique de Montreal, the 2008 Gairdner Wightman Award and the Order of Canada in 2002.

Dr. Suzanne Fortier
President
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Dr. Suzanne Fortier has served as President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) since January 2006. She was re-appointed to this position in November 2010. During her first five years, Dr. Fortier brought a renewed focus on excellence to the agency. Changes to NSERC’s funding structure ensure that the best researchers receive the funding they need to conduct world-class research. NSERC now engages more closely with industries to initiate research and development projects with academic partners. Dr. Fortier has also forged stronger relationships with other federal granting agencies and organizations to increase the number and scope of joint initiatives available to researchers. For example, a collaboration between National Research Council Canada, Business Development Bank of Canada and NSERC resulted in an ambitious new national initiative in nanotechnology.

Before her appointment to this position, Dr. Fortier held a number of senior research and administrative positions at Queen’s University. She joined Queen's University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry in 1982 after holding research positions at the Medical Foundation of Buffalo and National Research Council Canada. She then served as Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Acting Vice-Principal (Research), and Associate Dean in the School of Graduate Studies and Research before being appointed Vice-Principal (Research) in 1995. Most recently (2000-05), she was Vice-Principal (Academic).

Putting the Social in Canada’s Innovation Policy
The social sciences and human sciences matter. All of the big, "wicked" problems such as poverty, housing, immigration, security, diversity, climate change, at risk kids, Aboriginal issues, social determinants of health, to name a few, embrace issues related to social and human sciences. New solutions that address these issues are social innovations. But what's the role of social and human science research in fostering social innovations? How can the public, private, community and academic sectors collaborate on social innovation to benefit Canadians and Canadian communities?

Moderator
Graham Carr
President
Canadian Foundation of Humanities and Social Sciences
Graham Carr is President of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (CFHSS). Representing more than 85,000 faculty and students at 79 Canadian universities and 80 scholarly associations CFHSS is the national voice for university research and training in HSS disciplines. Carr is also Professor of History and Dean of Graduate Studies at Concordia University. He was previously Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Trained at Queen's University in Kingston and the University of Maine at Orono, Carr is a specialist in North American cultural and public history. He has published in the fields of literary and music history, popular culture, cultural policy, cultural diplomacy and social memory studies. His current research focuses on Cold War cultural exchanges involving the United States, Canada and the Soviet Union.

A member of the executive of the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools, Carr also serves on the Advisory Committee on Communications, Marketing and Programming for Canada's National Capital Commission.

Claudia Krywiak, Ph.D
Director, Partnership Development and Corporate Planning
Ontario Centres of Excellence
Claudia Krywiak is Director, Partnership Development and Corporate Planning, for the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE). OCE drives economic development by advancing the commercialization of publically-funded research outcomes, building industry-academic collaborations, and fostering the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. Claudia brings experience in developing successful partnerships to facilitate innovation and is interested in the development of new strategies that foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship and build partnerships between the private and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining OCE, Claudia held the position of Vice-President, Business Development (Ontario) at Mitacs, a national organization linking academia, industry and the public sectors to develop new tools to support the growth of Canada’s knowledge economy.

Claudia received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Toronto in 2003 and worked for Bruker BioSpin, a world leader in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technology, where she supported the customer base in the Canadian market and developed working relationships with industrial and academic researchers in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, and materials science.

Allyson Hewitt
Advisor, Social Innovation & Director, Social Entrepreneurship
Social Innovation Generation
Allyson leads the social innovation programs at MaRS including the Ontario node of the national initiative, Social Innovation Generation (SiG@MaRS). This program supports social entrepreneurs and promotes social innovation under the headings Advise! Convene! Accelerate! SiG@MaRS has also recently announced a groundbreaking Centre for Impact Investing and is working of a series of Innovation Solutions Labs to tackle complex challenges. A life long social innovator, she most recently worked at SickKids where she led Safe Kids Canada and was a passionate advocate for children. She was also the Executive Director of Community Information Toronto where she initiated 211, providing streamlined access to human service information. For this work she received the Head of the Public Service Award and several other prestigious awards for meritorious public service.

Allyson has been leading and volunteering in not-for-profit organizations for over 25 years. Her academic background is in Criminology, Law, Public Affairs, Voluntary Sector Management and Organizational development including Leading Change.

David Phipps, Ph.D
Director, Research Services & Knowledge Exchange
York University/ResearchImpact
ResearchImpact
David is responsible for the management and support of research services (research grants and contracts, research ethics, technology and knowledge transfer); participates in strategic planning; negotiates research contracts and grants, manages research data and develops research performance measurements; ensures compliance with government policies and the University mandate.

2:50 pm - 3:10 pm
Coffee Break
3:10 pm - 4:40 pm

GPS Genome Canada - Genomics and Regulatory Science
This panel is the final event in Genome Canada’s 2011 GPS series: Where Genomics, Public Policy and Society Meet, dedicated to facilitating a dialogue between federal policymakers and researchers exploring issues at the interface of genomics and its ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social aspects (or GE3LS). Under the overarching theme of “Translational Genomics,” ad the range of activities that help “move genomics out of the laboratory and into the market, the clinic, or society at large,” the 2011 series previously considered intellectual property, as well as other means to optimize the impact of genomic research beyond commercialization.

This panel will turn its attention to “regulatory science” and the policy questions that arise at the interface of science and regulations when assessing scientific and technological applications that result from advances in genomics, from a safety, efficacy or quality lens and from the perspective of other relevant considerations. The panel discussion will begin with the presentation of a draft policy brief commissioned by Genome Canada and prepared Drs. Bruce Doern and Peter Phillips, two leading Canadian science policy scholars, followed by invited commentaries from policy-makers and private sector representatives. The audience will be invited to participate in a plenary discussion to help refine the policy brief.

Moderator
Karine Morin
Director, National GE3LS Program
Genome Canada

As Genome Canada’s Director, National GE3LS Program, Karine Morin oversees activities related to the ethical, economic, environmental, legal and social (GE3LS) aspects of genomics research. Prior to joining Genome Canada, Karine was a Senior Ethics Policy Advisor at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). She also conducted research on ethical, legal and social issues related to genomics at the University of Ottawa’s Institute of Science, Society and Policy.

Karine worked in the US for several years as the Director of Ethics Policy at the American Medical Association, and previously as an Ethics and Health Policy Associate at the American College of Physicians. Before leaving Canada, she worked for the Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada (Krever Commission). Karine holds a Masters in Law (LLM) from the University of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of McGill University School of Law, where she obtained a joint degree in civil (B.C.L.) and common law (LL.B). Over the years, she has published widely in bioethics and law, and has taught as an adjunct at several universities in the US and Canada.

Bruce G. Doern, Ph.D
Professor, Researcher, Author, Consultant
Carleton University, School of Public Policy and Administration (retired)
Dr. Bruce Doern is the author of over 70 books and monographs and numerous other articles and studies on Canadian and comparative public policy and regulatory governance in areas such as food and health, biotechnology, science and innovation policy, government labs; environmental policy; energy policy; and consumer policy. He has recently completed a book (with Prof. Michael Prince) on Three Bio-Realms: Biotechnology and the Governance of Food, Health and Life in Canada (University of Toronto Press, in press). He is presently the co-editor of How Ottawa Spends, the Carleton University School of Public Policy and Administration’s annual review of national priorities and fiscal policy (McGill-Queen’s University Press). He recently served as the CIBC Scholar-in-Residence at the Conference Board of Canada. He also served as Director of the Carleton Research Unit on Innovation, Science and Innovation (CRUISE) at Carleton University.

He is a consultant and advisor to numerous federal and provincial departments and to international bodies such as the OECD on innovation, science, regulatory and other governance issues. He was an advisor to the 2004 federal External Advisory Committee on Smart Regulation. As Emeritus Professor, he teaches global governance in the Politics Department at the University of Exeter in the UK and he is Distinguished Research Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University.

Peter W.B. Phillips
Professor of Public Policy
Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School
University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Peter Phillips is Professor of Public Policy in the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, Canada. He earned his Ph.D. in International Political Economy at the London School of Economics and practiced for 13 years as a professional economist and senior policy advisor in Canadian industry and government. At the University of Saskatchewan, he has held the Van Vliet Research Chair, created and held an NSERC-SSHRC Chair in Managing Technological Change, was a founding member and director of the virtual College of Biotechnology and was founding director of the graduate school of public policy.

He has had visiting appointments at the LSE, the OECD, the European University Institute and the University of Western Australia, is associate editor of AgBioForum, a leading on-line journal, was a member of the NAFTA Chapter 13 expert panel on GM maize in Mexico and was a founding member of the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute, the Estey Centre for the Study of Trade, Law and the Economy, and Ag West Bio Inc., which operates a biotech venture fund.

His current research focuses on governing transformative innovation, including regulation and policy, innovation systems, intellectual property management, trade policy and decision systems. He is co-lead and principal investigator of a $5.4 million Genome Canada project entitled Value Addition through Genomics and GE3LS (VALGEN) which runs 2009-13 and has been an applicant and investigator on more than 15 peer reviewed grants worth more than $150 million. He has been author or editor of eight books—his latest, Governing Transformative Technological Innovation: Who’s in charge? was published by Edward Elgar in 2007—and more than 70 journal articles and book chapters.

Dr. Vratislav Hadrava, Ph.D
Director, Regulatory Affairs
Pfizer Canada inc.
Vratislav Hadrava obtained his MD diploma at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic and PhD degree from Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He completed his postgraduate research training at the Neurobiological Psychiatry Unit at Department of Psychiatry, McGill University. He has published articles in peer reviewed journals in the domain of hypertension, vascular smooth cell proliferation, mechanism of action of antidepressants and anxiolytics and clinical psychopharmacology.

Vratislav Hadrava initiated his career in pharmaceutical industry in 1995 at Pfizer Canada and has held positions of increasing responsibilities in areas of Medical Affairs, Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs.
He is currently Director, Regulatory Affairs at Pfizer Canada.

Vratislav Hadrava collaborated in numerous projects with clinical researchers from academia and Pfizer international, mainly in the area of mental health disorders. He acquired broad experience in clinical development and commercialization of new medicines and has developed a particular interest in the regulatory and pharmacovigilance aspects of pharmaceutical medicine.

Over the last years he has participated in several initiatives such as Health Canada/CIHR sponsored National Placebo Working Committee (2002-2004), Expert Advisory Committee on the Vigilance of Health Products (2007-2009) and Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network Advisory Committee (2009-2010).

Kwasi Nyarko, Ph.D
Regulatory Science Advisor
OFFICE OF POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
Health Canada
Kwasi A. Nyarko, Ph.D, is currently Regulatory Science Advisor, Office of Policy and International Collaboration, Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate, Health Canada. At Health Canada he has also worked with the Marketed Health Products Directorate with a unit responsible for post-market surveillance for biological products, including blood. Dr. Nyarko obtained his doctorate in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Kwasi has extensive experience in the development of science-based policies, guidance documents for industry, as well as development of national standards and regulations related to biologic and genetic therapies for human use. Dr. Nyarko is actively involved in the development of regulatory frameworks for a wide range of biological products regulated by BGTD such as the regulatory frameworks for vaccines, radiopharmaceuticals, pharmacogenomics, and plant molecular farming products. Dr. Nyarko has been involved in projects at the national and international levels and was instrumental in the development of the regulatory framework for subsequent entry biologics (biosimilars).

Erika van Neste
Innovation and Growth Policy Division
Strategic Policy Branch
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Impact of Investments in Innovation Intermediaries
Governments and businesses around the world invest in innovation intermediaries that help a diverse range of firms of different ages, sizes, and endowments innovate and succeed. Heightened concern for transparency and accountability has meant that these enabling organizations and programs report on a range of metrics, possibly including their impact on client and member firms. In this panel we explore the state of the art of the assessment of innovation intermediary impact from a range of perspectives: Canadian and European, practitioner and academic, ICT and biopharmaceutical industries. Panel members will consider what is proven, possible, desirable, and to be avoided in terms of impact assessment methodologies, and the degree to which different constituencies seek, avoid, are provided with, ignore, and use assessments of intermediary impact. The objective is an improved understanding of an issue that is central to innovation intermediary purpose and the ability of intermediaries to contribute to the innovation systems of which they are a part.

Moderator
Nobina Robinson
CEO
Polytechnics Canada
Nobina Robinson was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnics Canada in May 2009. Polytechnics Canada is a national alliance of Canada’s leading research-intensive, publicly funded colleges and institutes of technology. Mrs. Robinson held progressive appointments in the federal government and non-profit sectors since 1990. She began her public service career in 1990 when she joined the Treasury Board Secretariat as a management trainee. Two years later, she became a Foreign Service Officer and was posted as a political officer to the Canadian Embassy in Havana from 1994 to 1997. From 1998 to 2002, Mrs. Robinson led FOCAL, a policy institute on Canada’s relations with the Americas. Before joining Polytechnics Canada, Mrs. Robinson was the Ottawa-based Senior Government Relations Advisor for Seneca College, responsible for federal advocacy for one of Canada's largest colleges. Mrs. Robinson has a B.A. from Amherst College, an M.A. from Oxford University (Commonwealth Scholar 1985-1988) and has pursued post-graduate studies at Yale University. In October 2010, Mrs. Robinson was named to the Expert Panel undertaking the Review of Federal Support to Research and Development.

Mario Thomas, Ph.D
Senior Vice President
Ontario Centres of Excellence
Dr. Mario Thomas is an accomplished senior executive with impressive international credentials in the management of innovation. With over 30 years in leadership roles directing corporate development and commercialization, he creates remarkable value for all stakeholders. Mario Thomas brings extensive experience filled with achievements driving successful development collaborations and financial ventures. Dr. Thomas was promoted to Senior Vice-President, Ontario Centres of Excellence in June 2010. Before being appointed Managing Director of the Centre for Commercialization of Research at the Ontario Centres of Excellence in April 2009, Dr. Thomas was Partner in the venture firm T2C2 Capital. His previous experiences include CEO and co-founders of two start-up companies; senior level positions in business development, marketing and scientist. He is the founding chairman of the International Commercialization Alliance. He holds a PhD in chemistry and a BSc from Université Laval in Quebec City, as well as a diploma in business administration from École des Hautes Études Commerciales of Université de Montréal. He is also a Chartered Director with the ASC designation in board governance. Dr. Thomas brings an in-depth background in board level functions both as a board member and in managing board relations as an executive.

Margaret Dalziel
Associate Professor, School of Managment, University of Ottawa
& VP Research of The Evidence Network
Margaret Dalziel is an associate professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Telfer School of Management of the University of Ottawa, and VP Research of The Evidence Network. Margaret joined the University of Ottawa in 2001 with 15 years experience in technology development and research management at McGill University and the Canadian Space Agency. Her current research focuses on the assessment of interventions to promote innovation, and on describing the architecture of the economy in terms of inter-industry relations. With generous support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, her research has resulted in some 60 articles including publications in academic journals such as Research Policy, the Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, and the British Journal of Management. During 2008-2009 Margaret was a visiting professor at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China.

Raine Hermans, Ph.D
Head, Unit for Strategic Intelligence
Tekes (Finland)
Raine Hermans is the Head of Unit for Strategic Intelligence since January 2010. He started with Tekes as a Director of Regional Networks at Tekes in September 2007. The Regional Networks consist of 14 technology development departments all over in Finland. One of his most important future challenges is to coordinate synchronizing the distinctive regional strategies together and with the one of Tekes’. Raine acted as the visiting professor (managerial economics of biotechnology) at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Illinois USA, from 2006 to 2007. Raine has also led a group of multidisciplinary corporate and industry analysts for several years with Etlatieto Ltd and ETLA, the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy. Raine has a Ph.D. degree in industrial engineering and management (Helsinki University of Technology) and a master’s degree in economics (University of Helsinki). He has published several articles in international journals and edited academic books. The most recent articles are related to technology management and economic forecasting.

Natalie E. Dakers
CEO
Centre for Drug Research and Development
Natalie E. Dakers is a leading figure in the Canadian biotechnology industry and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), an innovative organization in British Columbia with a mandate to address the commercialization gap between early-stage technologies arising out of university-based research and investment opportunities. Under Ms. Dakers’ leadership, CDRD has signed affiliation agreements with major research institutions in Canada and forged important strategic relationships with Pfizer Canada and Genome British Columbia. With its over 20,000 square feet in specialized lab space and more than $12 million invested in state-of-the-art equipment, CDRD has attracted over 70 employees and 260 investigators. To date, CDRD has raised and secured approximately $74 million in funding and was named a Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR). Ms. Dakers is active in a number of business and scientific organizations, including Past Chair of BC Biotech (now LifeSciences British Columbia), the association supporting and representing the province’s biotech, medical device and life sciences community. Currently, Ms. Dakers is a board member of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), BIOTECanada and the International Science and Technology Partnership Canada (ISTP Canada). Previously, Ms. Dakers also served on the Boards of Genome Canada, Genome BC, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. Ms. Dakers is an Adjunct Professor in UBC’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a member of the Council of Canadian Academies’ Expert Panel on Business Innovation. Ms. Dakers received a Peak Award for Performance and Excellence in 2004. In 2009, Ms. Dakers was the recipient of BIOTECanada’s Gold Leaf Award for Industry Leadership.

Using Science Policy to Improve Health Outcomes in the North
The Canadian North has become a focus for politicians and researchers alike within recent years. This increased attention has not only helped to reignite Canadians’ awareness of the North, it has also shed light on certain disparities. Many Northerners, especially Aboriginal people, suffer from poorer health in comparison to other Canadians. This panel will explore the current health challenges in the North, and discuss how science policy can be used to help improve the situation. Overall, the goals of this panel are to:

Raise awareness about health issues in the North and the challenge of addressing those issues
Show how building up the scientific presence within the North will help to improve health outcomes among Northerners
Reiterate the notion that scientific work cannot take place in isolation – rather it must be a collaborative activity which is engaged in by many different, yet inter-connected, communities
Reaffirm the need for governments, communities, and academia to work together.

Moderator
Sandra Lister
Manager, Science Policy Coordination
Health Canada
Sandra Lister is the Manager of the Science Policy Coordination Unit (SPCU) within the Policy, Planning and Coordination Division of Health Canada's Strategic Policy Branch. The SPCU provides senior management with strategic analysis and advice on complex, horizontal and multi-dimensional S&T and science policy issues. Ms. Lister oversees the secretariat to the departmental Director General Science Committee and the Northern Health Evidence Sub-Working Group, which is responsible for leading the Health Portfolio’s contribution to the Northern Strategy. Additionally, Ms. Lister is an active member on several working groups which support the Federal S&T Strategy, the Federal Integrated Northern S&T Strategy (FINeST) and the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS).

Dr. Pertice Moffitt
Nurse Educator
Aurora College
Dr. Pertice Moffitt is a nurse educator in the undergraduate program at Aurora College, Yellowknife Campus, Yellowknife, NT; an Adjunct Professor with Dalhousie University; and, as well, she also teaches graduates students at Athabasca University. Additionally, Dr. Moffitt is the Manager of the Health Research Programs for Aurora Research Institute at the North Slave Research Centre in Yellowknife. Dr. Moffitt's research interests are with Circumpolar Health, Cultural Diversity and Women's Health utilising the qualitative methods of ethnography, photovoice and fourth generation evaluation.

Dr. Kue Young
Professor
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Dr. Kue Young is a professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and TransCanada Chair in Aboriginal Health & Well-being. He is President of the International Network for Circumpolar Health Research and a former co-chair of the Arctic Council’s Human Health Expert Group. Much of Dr. Young's professional career has been devoted to northern and Aboriginal health research, with a major focus on the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In 2010 he was appointed Member of the Order of Canada for "his contributions and commitment to advancing the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples, notably as a leading scholar in the field of Aboriginal health research.”

Christopher Cornish
Regional Director, Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
Health Canada - Northern Region
Christopher Cornish is the regional Director of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation for Health Canada’s Northern Region. Northern Region is responsible for delivering on Health Canada’s mandate in the three northern territories, managing and administering health promotion and disease prevention programs, the Non-Insured Health Benefits program for First Nations and Inuit, and the Territorial Health System Sustainability Initiative. Northern Region also serves as the departmental link on circumpolar health and research activities and plays an instrumental role in supporting the Government of Canada’s Northern Strategy. Prior to joining Health Canada, Mr. Cornish served in various policy roles at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

Sarah Kalhok Bourque
Manager, Northern Science and Contaminants Research
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Sarah Kalhok Bourque is the Manager of Northern Science and Contaminants Research with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. In this capacity, Sarah Kalhok Bourque manages the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP), established in 1991. Prior to this, Sarah Kalhok Bourque was part of the core team that developed Canada’s Program for the International Polar Year (IPY), which was designed along policy-relevant themes of “Climate change impacts and adaptation” and “Health and well-being of Northern communities”, and she was subsequently Manager and Science Manager of the Government of Canada Program for IPY. Now based in Ottawa, she used to call the North her home while working for the Aurora Research Institute in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Her perspective on northern/Arctic science and policy comes from program experience at the local, national and international level.

4:40 pm - 6:00 pm
Sponsor Showcase & Networking
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Keynote Panel - Science and Politics in Canada
This is a non-partisan and cross party discussion, among former scientists and current politicians, on the interface between science and government. The panel will discuss:

The barriers and potential solutions for greater interaction between the scientific and political communities in Canada
How to encourage and facilitate the greater participation of scientists in politics.

Introductions
Pierre Meulien, Ph.D
President and CEO
Genome Canada
Pierre Meulien was appointed President and CEO of Genome Canada in 2010. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Meulien served as Chief Scientific Officer for Genome British Columbia from 2007 to 2010 where he promoted the organization’s ongoing scientific strategy, focusing on the science of genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics within the larger realm of biotechnology and life sciences. Facilitating the translation of genome based technologies into end user communities across many life science sectors was also a key responsibility.

From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Meulien served as the founding CEO of the Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre (now Molecular Medicine Ireland) which linked the three medical schools and six teaching hospitals in Dublin to build a critical mass in molecular medicine and translational research. The Centre managed the Euro 45 Million “Program for Human Genomics” financed by the Irish government and was responsible for coordinating the successful application for the first Wellcome Trust funded Clinical Research Centre to be set up in Ireland.

For over 20 years, Dr. Meulien has managed expert research teams with a number of organizations, including Aventis Pasteur in Toronto (Senior Vice President of R&D), and in Lyon, France (Director of Research). He also spent seven years with the French biotechnology company Transgene in Strasbourg, France as a research scientist and part of the management team. Dr. Meulien’s academic credentials include a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and a post-doctoral appointment at the Institut Pasteur in Paris.

Marc Garneau
Former Astronaut
MP for Westmount Ville-Marie, Quebec
Marc Garneau has served his country his entire professional career, beginning with the Canadian Navy and then as an astronaut and President of the Canadian Space Agency , and now in political life. Garneau resigned from the Canadian Space Agency to run under the Liberal banner in Vaudreuil–Soulanges in 2006. After the last federal elections, he remained very involved in politics and played a determining role in the Liberal Renewal Commission by drafting its Science and Technology position paper. He also helped draft a number of resolutions aimed at clarifying the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, the resolution of fiscal unbalance and the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

Hon. Hélène LeBlanc
MP for LaSalle-Emard, Science and Technology Critic
Hélène is an agronomist and project manager for the Conseil d’assainissement et d’aménagement du ruisseau Lacorne.
Hélène has taught French in Vancouver and Ottawa and was an interpreter/guide for the Canada Museums of Science and Technology Corporation in Ottawa. She was also an assistant to persons suffering from Alzheimers for the organization Baluchon Alzheimer and an agro-environment officer with the Fédération de l’Union des producteurs agricoles de l’Outaouais-Laurentides.
Hélène has a Bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and environment from McGill University.

Dr. Kellie Leitch
MP for Simcoe Grey
Dr. Kellie Leitch is the Member of Parliament for Simcoe-Grey and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and to the Minister of Labour. Prior to her election on May 2, 2011, Dr. Leitch was an orthopaedic paediatric surgeon at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Dr. Leitch was also an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Chair of the Ivey Centre for Health Innovation and Leadership, and Director of the Health Sector MBA program at the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. Dr. Leitch received the Order of Ontario in 2010 for her work advocating for children. Dr. Leitch was selected as one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 for her work in both medicine and business in 2005. Dr. Leitch previously served as Chair of the Expert Panel for the Children's Fitness Tax Credit in 2006, which made recommendations to the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, regarding the best ways to implement the tax credit designed to encourage health and fitness among Canadian children and youth. In 2008, Dr. Leitch authored the report entitled: "Reaching for the Top: A Report by the Advisor on Healthy Children & Youth". The report is a "call to action" for government and industry on key issues affecting Canadian children and youth.
Dr. Leitch earned her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Toronto in 1994, MBA from Dalhousie University in 1998, completed the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program in 2001 at the University of Toronto, and became a Fellow of Paediatric Orthopaedics at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles/University of Southern California in 2002.

As a volunteer, Dr. Leitch served as a council member on the NRC (National Research Council of Canada), a Board member of Genome Canada, a Director on the YMCA (GTA) board of directors, Vice President of CANFAR (Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research), and is the founder of The Sandbox Project. In addition, Dr. Leitch hosts an annual golf tournament to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Reza Moridi, Ph.D
Ontario MPP - Richmond Hill
An award-winning scientist, engineer, educator, business leader and community activist who has lived in Richmond Hill since 1991, Reza Moridi was first elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly in 2007. Upon his election, Reza was appointed by Premier Dalton McGuinty as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. He was also appointed to the Cabinet Committee on Economy, Environment and Resources Policy. Prior to his election, Reza was the Vice-President and Chief Scientist of the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada. His 17 year career at this Institute provided him with a thorough understanding of the nuclear industry of Canada as well as the application of radiation and nuclear materials in a large variety of industry and health care sectors. Over the years, Reza has contributed significantly to the understanding of nuclear materials, radiation and radiation safety by the public, students, educators and workers in Canada. In recognition of his contributions, the Canadian Nuclear Society presented Reza with the Education and Communication Award in 2001.

In recognition of Reza’s outstanding contributions to the profession of Health Physics (radiation protection), the US Health Physics Society presented Reza with the Fellow Award in 2002. For his original contribution to physics and engineering, Reza was elected as Fellow of the UK Institute of Physics (1986) and Fellow of the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology (1992). Education, energy, innovation, environment, health and prosperity are key issues of interest to Reza.

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Genome Canada Reception - Induction of 2011 Members to the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame
Friday, November 18, 2011
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Continental Breakfast
8:30 am - 8:40 am
Opening Statement of the Day: International Year of Chemistry

Bernard West, Ph.D
President/Chair of the Board
Westworks Consulting/Ontario BioAuto Council
Bernard West holds a BSc and a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Manchester where he also taught for 6 years. In 2008 he was President and CEO of CANSOLV Technologies of Montreal, and was previously President and COO, Canada Colors and Chemicals Limited. Prior to that, he had 30 years of experience in the chemical industry with Rhone-Poulenc, Imperial Oil [ Esso ] and Polymer Corporation.

Bernard has also been very active in industry associations and industry-government bodies; member of the Board of the Canada’s Chemical Producers Association (Chair 1995–1997), Chair of The Chemical Institute of Canada, Chair of the Society of Chemical Industry–Canadian Section, member of the Board of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (Washington, D.C.).

He is currently; Chair of the Board of Ontario BioAuto Council, Co-Chair of the Sustainable Chemistry Alliance, Co-Chair of the Canadian Green Chemistry and Engineering Network, and Chair of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technologies in the National Research Council of Canada. He is an associate member of the IUPAC Committee on Chemical Industry representing Canada and a member of the board of Life Sciences Ontario.

8:40 am - 10:10 am
Drivers of Innovation in the Chemical-Related Industry Sector
In its 2011 Brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE) states that “a highly skilled workforce is an essential component of the innovation pipeline. Canada has done well to improve its capacity to train the next generation of researchers and innovators. Clearly we are on our way to building the next generation of cutting-edge researchers that will fuel the innovation pipeline. However employment prospects for highly skilled workers are bleak. A large part of the problem is that businesses in Canada invest very little in research and development (R&D), so they have little need to hire highly skilled workers. Canadian graduates have trouble finding good jobs, especially R&D jobs in industry”.
This session will explore the factors that drive industrial research and development in several of Canada’s largest chemical-related trade sectors. What are the strengths and weaknesses of our national and provincial science, economic and other related policies and regulations that attract or hinder research investments in Canada? Does research have to be carried out in Canada, in all cases, in order for the country to benefit? Are our industry / academic partnerships and commercial centres working - and producing results?
Moderator

Avrim Lazar, Ph.D

CEO & President
Forest Products Association of Canada
Avrim Lazar is President & CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada, since Jan. 1, 2002 and he is chair of the Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products (ACPWP) to the United Nations. Mr. Lazar has held senior policy positions in the government of Canada in the Ministries of Justice, Agriculture, Environment and Human Resource Development. During this period he was responsible for national policy in areas as diverse as climate change, biodiversity, child poverty, employment insurance and labor force training.

Mr. Lazar was Chair of the Committee of the Whole of the Second UN Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1995. He also chaired the National Business Association Roundtable and is the Past-President of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA). Mr. Lazar taught high school in Vancouver and Zambia from 1969 to 1973. Over the years, Mr. Lazar has given many courses in the graduate studies programs at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Mr. Lazar holds degrees in science and education, including a B.Sc (1968) from McGill University, a B.Ed (1970) and a PhEd in Ed (1976) from the University of Ottawa.

Craig Crawford
President & CEO
Ontario BioAuto Council
Craig has served on numerous government and industry committees and non-profit boards that have advocated support for biobased industries in both Canada and the United States. He has acted as a consultant to the federal and Ontario governments on the bioeconomy and wrote a framework for developing biobased industries in Canada. He has been actively involved in identifying research and business opportunities in the new bioeconomy for more than a decade.

Craig is currently the President and CEO of the Ontario BioAuto Council. The Council’s vision is to make Ontario a global leader in the manufacture of automobile parts, construction materials and packaging from biological feedstocks. Its mission is to unite Ontario’s largest economic sectors (i.e. agriculture, forestry, oil, chemical, manufacturing and automotive), research community and government around viable strategies aimed at building a province-wide bioeconomy.

David Yake, Ph.D
Director - Corporate Process Innovation, Research & Business Development
DuPont Canada
David Yake has more than 31 years of global R&D, business, sales and marketing leadership with DuPont. He received his MS and Ph.D in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1980. He served six years with DuPont in Asia as regional business and marketing manager and director of the company’s Chemical Solutions business, leveraging broad based open innovation across the region to establish a sustainable growth platform. During the last five years David has lived in Canada and led the Research and Business Development Centre in Kingston, Ontario, and the DuPont Center for Process Innovation - a global corporate leveraged technology based business that specializes in developing and scaling-up technology solutions to commercial level. In Canada, the organization’s key role is to identify key growth opportunities and collaborate with global businesses to commercialize innovative solutions that meet market needs.

Dave Collyer
CEO & President
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
David Collyer was appointed President of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) on September 15th, 2008, after serving as President and Country Chair for Shell in Canada. In his current position, Mr. Collyer is responsible for leading CAPP’s activities in education, communications and policy / regulatory advocacy on behalf of its members representing over 90% of the upstream petroleum production in Canada.

During his 30 year career tenure with Shell, Mr. Collyer held a broad range of technical, business and senior leadership roles. These included positions in conventional oil and gas, oil sands, marketing and transportation and downstream commercial marketing, as well as cross-business roles such as strategy and planning, communications and sustainable development. He also participated in a two year Executive Exchange assignment with the federal government in Ottawa.

Mr. Collyer holds a petroleum engineering degree and an MBA from the University of Alberta, and belongs to a range of professional affiliations including the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) as well as the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). He has also been a member of a number of not-for-profit boards.

10:10 am - 10:30 am
Coffee Break
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
How do we build resilient communities in the face of climate change?
The science is complex, the picture is daunting, the impacts all too real. A global challenge, climate change is creating environmental, economic and social upheaval, particularly in coastal and northern communities.
What strategies are available to those communities to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its impact on their ecosystems? Are there governance and policy hurdles hindering the development and implementation of such strategies? Can and will local actions make a difference? As part of the conference’s “Exploring the True North Strong and Free: Reflections on Northern Science Policy” theme, this panel will engage in an inspiring conversation on community activism, sustainability and resilience in Canada’s northern communities.

Moderator
James Baxter
Founding Editor and Publisher
iPolitics
Over the past 25 years, Baxter has been an award-winning sportswriter, political journalist, bureau chief and editorial writer. A third-generation public affairs journalist, Baxter’s work covering politics, first in Ottawa and then in Alberta, earned him a prestigious Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University in 2008, where his studies focused on the future of media businesses and the role of the press in democracy. Born and raised in Ottawa, he holds degrees in international relations, journalism, and media administration. He lives in Ottawa with his wife, Sarah, and three young children, coaches football and soccer, and is an exuberant skier.

Frances Abele
Academic Director of the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation
Professor of the School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University
Dr. Abele has written widely on Canadian public policy and the northern political economy, publishing over 80 books, articles, book chapters and technical reports. With a northern research career stretching back thirty years, she is the author of an oft-consulted study of employment training in the Northwest Territories (Abele 1989) and numerous articles and technical reports on northern economic and political issues. She is an expert on federal northern policy, publishing regularly on this theme, and on the implications for the federation of governance innovations pursuant to the modern treaties. Abele is co-author and co-editor of the first comprehensive examination of northern development policy to include a balanced complement of authors from northern and southern Canada (Abele, Courchene, St-Hilaire and Seidle, 2009). As deputy director of research for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in the 1990s, Abele was responsible for the Commission's research on the North, and portions of the work on governance and economy. She has worked in partnership with northern organizations in Canada and abroad, ranging from the North-West Academy of Public Administration, Murmansk, Russia to community governments in Canada, where she currently collaborates with the Hamlet of Igloolik and community partners in Deline.

Gordon McBean
Professor, Joint Appointment with Geography and Political Science
& Research Chair at the Institute of Catastrophic Loss Reduction, University of Western Ontario
Professor, Joint Appointment with Geography and Political Science
Dr. Gordon McBean received his B.Sc. in Physics and Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of British Columbia and a M.Sc. in Meteorology from McGill University. He was a scientist in Environment Canada from 1970 to 1988 when he was appointed Professor and Chair of the Atmospheric Science Program at the University of British Columbia. In 1992, he was appointed Head, Department of Oceanography. From 1994 to 2000, he was Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for the Meteorological Service of Environment Canada. He was appointed to his present position in July 2000. Dr. McBean's research interests are in atmospheric and climate sciences, ranging in scope from the natural sciences of the phenomena to the policies of governments and responses of people to them. He is undertaking new research on the changing climate and weather systems in the Arctic, and investigating the role of science in changing government policies. An area of interest is the changing occurrence of extreme weather events with climate change, their influence on public systems and strategies for adaptation. In addition to his activities at UWO, Dr. McBean is active nationally and internationally. He is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences and a member of the scientific committee for the International Arctic Research Center of the University of Alaska, the Board of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the Northern S&T Committee, and the Canadian Committee for the International Polar Year. He was a lead author for the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Earlier in his career he participated in the first Polar Experiment planning meeting and as chair of the World Climate Research Programme helped create the Arctic Climate System Study (ACSYS). He has received the Patterson Medal for distinguish contributions to meteorology by a Canadian and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and the American Meteorological Society.

Ian Mauro
Canada Research Chair in Human Dimensions of Environmental Change
Mount Allison University
Ian Mauro is a Canada Research Chair in "human dimensions of environmental change" at Mount Allison University, in New Brunswick. He is both a researcher and filmmaker, with a PhD in environmental science, and his work focuses on hunter, farmer and fisher knowledge regarding environmental change, specifically issues related to food security and global warming. As part of his doctorate, he co-directed "Seeds of Change" (www.seedsofchangefilm.org), a highly controversial film that was banned from being released by the University of Manitoba, and created one of the largest academic freedom battles in Canada. For his postdoctorate, Mauro teamed up with Zacharias Kunuk and Igloolik Isuma Productions to develop "Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change", the world's first Inuktitut language film on the topic. The film is available for free on our website (www.isuma.tv/ikcc). This upcoming year, Mauro will be collaborating with Sheila Watt-Cloutier - acclaimed Inuk climate change advocate and Nobel Prize nominee - who will be working on her forthcoming book as a Visiting Scholar at Mount Allison. Ian can be contacted through email at imauro@mta.ca.

Jamal Shirley
Manager, Research Design and Policy Development
Iqaluit Research Centre, Nunavut Research Institute
Jamal Shirley is Manager of Research Design at the Nunavut Research Institute in Iqaluit. He grew up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, and has lived in Iqlauit since 1997. An advisor to researchers working in the social, natural and biological disciplines in Nunavut, Jamal contributes to research design, data collection, analysis, and public outreach for a wide range of studies. He has served on the advisory board for the Arctic Storm Studies Project, and as a member of Canada’s National Committee for International Polar Year. As a member of the Nunavut Government’s Sustainable Development Advisory Group Jamal contributes to the development of policy and strategies relating to resource development, climate change adaptation, land use planning, and wildlife management in Nunavut. Jamal also works directly with Nunavut community groups to develop research proposals and identify funding and partnerships.

What do some of the fastest growing S&T Firms in Canada think about Canada's Innovation Policy?
The policy community has no shortage of indicators and creative ideas to support more innovative economies and high quality services to and opportunities for Canadians. The challenge, rather, is to determine the right mix of indicators to monitor for a desired outcome in a particular sector, and the right approach to policy development and implementation for the same sector outcomes. This panel will set out to identify the most influential policies and gaps in policy for fast-growing S&T firms in Canada. The discussion would explore issues of incentives, trade, HQP, innovation strategy and partnerships as they are influenced by policy and implemented through management practice. The panelists will be invited to explore one or two of these issues to a greater depth that speaks to specific policy and management linkages.
The panelists represent some of the fastest growing S&T companies in Canada, moderated by Dr. Charles Davis, Research Chair in Media Management and Entrepreneurship at Ryerson University, and of the Innovation Systems Research Network.

Moderator
Charles Davis
Professor
Ryerson Unversity's School of Radio and Television Arts
Charles Davis is a professor in Ryerson Unversity's School of Radio and Television Arts (Faculty of Communication and Design) and is cross-appointed with the Entrepreneurship and Strategy Department in the Ted Rogers School of Management. He currently teaches and conducts research on management and policy in industries that produce experience goods - with special interest in innovation and new product development in the software and content layers of mediated creative industries. He is currently involved in research projects on media product innovation, media labour, media industry clusters, audience responses to media offerings, corporate governance of innovation, and digital entrepreneurship. His recent graduate and undergraduate teaching includes courses in media management, new product development, political economy of media industries, audience analysis, innovation in experience-producing industries, cultural economy, and media entrepreneurship. He teaches in Ryerson's MA in Media Production program, in the Ryerson/York MA/PhD program in Communication and Culture, and in Ryerson's MBA/MSc in Management of Technology and Innovation program.

David Arthurs
President
Hickling Arthurs Low
Dr. David Arthurs is the President of Hickling Arthurs Low (HAL). David specializes in economic analysis, policy development, and strategic planning for public sector science and technology organizations. David has a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, an MBA from the University of Ottawa, and a PhD from the School of Business at Queen's University

Curtis VanWalleghem, MBA, BEng, PMP
Chief Executive Officer
Hydrostor Inc
Mr. VanWalleghem currently leads energy storage start-up Hydrostor Inc. Curtis has spent the last 10 years helping companies set and execute on their strategy. Prior to Hydrostor, he was Sr. Manger in Deloitte's Corporate Strategy Consulting Practice where he advised some of the top energy companies in Canada and around the globe. He has also held positions at Bruce Power, Celestica Inc, and CIBC.

Nicolas Morgan
Vice-President, Business Development and Marketing
Morgan Solar
Nicolas Morgan is a co-founder of Morgan Solar, and leads the company’s Business Development and Marketing efforts. He holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Anthropology and a post-graduate degree in Applied Information Technology. Before coming to Morgan Solar at the start of 2008, Nicolas spent two years in Spain as a senior manager for FON Technologies, a Web 2.0 start-up. At FON, Nicolas coordinated the activities of business development teams in Europe, North America and Asia. Prior to this, Nicolas worked at Ernst & Young as a risk management and business process advisor to the Ontario electricity sector.

Glen Martin
President and COO
Pod Generating Group
Glen has over 20 years experience in early-phase project development in space and high technology sectors. Most recently he served as co-founder and Senior Adviser in Business Development at ProtoStar Limited, a satellite operator focused on direct-to-home satellite television services in Asia. Prior to co-founding Pod Generating Group, Glen worked with NASA, Motorola, Hughes and Raytheon on advanced space systems and international business development. He previously worked for McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company, Boeing Canada and Rolls-Royce Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Aerospace Engineering from Ryerson University and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Reaching out with Big Science
The public often learns of developments in science in the media distilled from press offices at peer-reviewed journals or universities. In a few cases, research institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and CERN have also developed a reputation for being seen as authoritative sources of science news and information for the public. In recent years, the Canadian research landscape has grown to feature a number of ‘big science’ facilities. These institutions, such as TRIUMF, Ocean Networks Canada, the Canadian Light Source, SNOLab and the Perimeter Institute, conduct research at the forefront of science – often at the convergence of science disciplines and with a scope and scale that is larger than traditional research institutions in government or the academy. In addition to research, all of these laboratories also engage in a number of forms of public engagement and outreach, ranging from media relations to classroom education. In a media landscape where science reporting is becoming increasingly fractured, what role do Canada’s big science facilities have in being sources of science news, information and education?

Moderator
Matthew Dalzell
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Light
Matthew Dalzell is the Communications Coordinator and Staff Writer at the Canadian Light Source, Canada’s national synchrotron facility in Saskatoon. His role includes media relations, strategic communications and telling stories about the science done at the CLS as an embedded science writer. One of the items on his ‘bucket list’ was fulfilled soon after starting at the CLS in 2004: appearing on CBC radio’s Quirks and Quarks. Matt earned a M.Sc. in Geology, specializing in palaeontology, as well as bachelor degrees in Science and Education, all from the University of Saskatchewan. He taught high school in Saskatoon and rural Saskatchewan, and spent several years on full-time service with the Royal Canadian Navy as a reserve staff officer and instructor. Matt is also chair of lightsources.org, an international communications collaboration of synchrotrons and other high-energy light source facilities.

John Matlock
Director, External Relations & Public Affairs
Perimeter Institute
John Matlock is the Director of External Relations and Public Affairs, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical physics. John and his team are responsible for a wide range of Perimeter Institute's strategic communications and relationships. Since 2004, John has led a wide range of activities, including special events with Stephen Hawking, the award winning "Quantum Tamers" documentary (viewable in sixty countries), and the successful "Quantum to Cosmos: Ideas for the Future" festival, reaching over one million on-site, online and via television. Prior to joining Perimeter, John was an award winning news producer in both the CTV and CBC news organizations. In transferring his skills to science communications, he has guided others in a successful "rule of three" - tied to content, conversation and coordination.

Penny Park
Executive Director
Science Media Centre of Canada
Penny Park is the Executive Director of the Science Media Centre of Canada, with extensive hands-on experience in radio and television science journalism. From 1980 to 1995, she worked as a producer and senior producer with Quirks and Quarks, the award-winning weekly science program on CBC radio. Since 1995, Penny has been with the Discovery Channel, where she helped develop the show now called Daily Planet. Originally from Montreal, she first earned a BA from the University of New Brunswick, studying linguistics, followed by a B.Sc (honours) in biology from the University of Guelph, graduating there in 1980.

Tim Meyer, Ph.D
Head of Strategic Planning & Communications
TRIUMF
Dr. Timothy I. Meyer is Head of Strategic Planning and Communications at TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics. He coordinates interactions with elected officials, stakeholders, the general public, and the media. Tim oversaw preparation and successful approval of the laboratory’s five-year plan 2010-2015 and played a role in Canada’s national discussions about producing medical isotopes using accelerators. He came to TRIUMF in late 2007 from the U.S. National Academies in Washington, D.C., where he served as an expert in science and public policy as a senior program officer at the Board on Physics and Astronomy. Dr. Meyer joined the U.S. National Academies after earning his Ph.D. in experimental particle physics from Stanford University. Tim has been recognized for excellence in public-policy analysis and communication strategies. In 2010, he chaired a strategic communications review of the U.S. DOE’s premier plasma and fusion science laboratory managed by Princeton University. When not working, Tim reads pulp fiction on his Kindle, plays volleyball, and follows his gourmet-chef wife around the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Jay Ingram
Science Broadcaster and Writer
Jay Ingram was the host of Discovery Channel Canada’s Daily Planet from the first episode in January, 1995 to June, 2011. Daily Planet is the only hour-long, prime-time daily science show in the world. Prior to joining Discovery, Jay hosted CBC radio’s national science show, Quirks and Quarks, from 1979 to 1992. During that time he won two ACTRA awards, one for best host, and several Canadian Science Writers’ awards. He wrote and hosted two CBC radio documentary series and short radio and television science stories for a variety of programs. He was a contributing editor to Owl magazine for ten years, and wrote a weekly science column in the Toronto Star for twelve. Jay has also written eleven books - which have been translated into twelve languages - and is working on more.

Jay has received the Sandford Fleming medal from the Royal Canadian Institute for his efforts to popularize science, the Royal Society’s McNeil medal for the Public Awareness of Science and the Michael Smith award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Alberta, has received five honorary doctorates and is a member of the Order of Canada.

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Lunch
12:45 pm - 12:55 pm
Luncheon Address - PIPSC

Gary Corbett
President
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Gary Corbett brings over 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors to his role as President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC). Mr. Corbett represents 60,000 members including more than 23,000 scientists, researchers and regulators who work in government departments, agencies and laboratories.

A former employee of Natural Resources Canada, Gary worked as a scientist conducting operational research in the coal mining industry in Cape Breton. Relocating his family to Ottawa following the close of the coal industry in 1998, he focused his attention on policy development as it pertains to the role of public science and evidence-based decision-making.

As National Vice-President and then President of the Institute, Gary Corbett has ensured that PIPSC is actively engaged in the search for solutions to the challenges facing Canadian science. He initiated and chaired successful Science Policy Symposiums in 2007 and 2010. Mr. Corbett is also strongly committed to advocating on behalf of Canada's public science and its public scientists.
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Keynote Luncheon Address
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Examining the Prospects of a Canadian Science Policy Centre

The original agenda was published in the CSPC website, follow it here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/canadian-science-policy-conference

Names Not Numbers Mumbai

praskrishna — 2011-11-21T05:04:09Z

Names Not Numbers Mumbai is part of an annual series of invitation-only ideas conferences for 100 key players and thinkers across politics, business, media, culture, academia and technology to discuss and debate what individuality in a mass age means. Names Not Numbers Mumbai is put together by the Media, Analysis & Networking company Editorial Intelligence in association with the British Council, the Financial Times and partners including Jnanapravaha.

Taking place on Saturday 26th November 2011 in the south of the city, with a brief recorded address by Professor Amartya Sen, the Nobel Laureate economist.

Please note, guest registation will be closing on Monday 21st November, if you would still like to register to attend after this date, please email events@editorialintelligence.com.

Speakers include:

Vinita Bali, Managing Director, Britannia Industries; R Balakrishnan (Balki), Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas, Mumbai; Venky Balakrishnan, Global Vice President, Diageo Plc; Shyam Benegal, distinguished multi-award-winning director & screenwriter; Mihir Bose, Writer & Broadcaster; James Crabtree, Mumbai Correspondent, Financial Times; Kishwar Desai, novelist & winner of the Costa First Novel Award 2010; Aditya Dev Sood, Founder & CEO, Center for Knowledge Societies; Professor Rachel Dwyer, Professor of Indian Culture and Cinema, SOAS; AA Gill, award-winning travel writer, reviewer & critic; Tristram Hunt MP, Member of Parliament & Author; Jo Johnson MP, former Associate Editor, Financial Times & author ‘Reconnecting Britain and India - Ideas for an Enhanced Partnership’; Rajesh Kejriwal, Kaoorius; Amit Khanna, Head, Reliance Entertainment; Vikram Mehta, Chairman, Shell India; Nasser Munjee, Chairman, DCB; Narinder Nayar, Chairman of Mumbai First & Managing Director, Concast (India); Cameilla Panjabi; Rashmi Poddar, cultural polymath, founder & director, Jnanapravaha; Sujata Sen, British Council; Nishant Shah, Director, the Center for Internet Society; Parmesh Shahani, Head of India Culture Lab, author of ‘Gay Bombay’, & editor-at-large of Verve; Meera Syal, actor, writer & bestselling author; and Dr Shashi Tharoor MP, MP & Author.

See what participants say about Names Not Numbers UK

"Terrific organisation, fabulous participants, challenging programme... and a simply great location."
Peter Kellner, President, YouGov

"We made a strange community in that magical place and I loved being part of it."
Suzanne Moore, Columnist, The Guardian and Mail on Sunday

"Amazing organisation, people, conversations…can we go next weekend please?"
Morice Mendoza, Mendoza Media

"I learned so much, met so many fascinating people, and came away with so many ideas that it is hard to credit that it all happened in 48 hours!"
Dylan Jones, Merryck & Co

"The value of Names Not Numbers is enormous, real and singular. Every aspect of the organization, the topics, the panels, up to the walk on the beach was a work of art and a labour of love."
Inmaculada Martinez, Partner, Opus Corporate Finance LLP

"It was a jewel of a weekend….thoroughly enjoyable and quite remarkable."
Frieda Hughes, Author, Painter and Poet

"By the end I'd lost my voice but was upheld by the formless euphoria of Names Not Numbers."
Sarah Churchwell, Senior Lecturer in American Literature & Culture, University of East Anglia

"Never has thought provocation been quite so affirming."
Baroness Oona King, Diversity Executive Channel 4

"There were poignant transformational moments over the weekend which made us reflect, re-evaluate preconceptions and challenge our thinking. So much is still percolating in my head."
Chantal Tregear, Director, Taylor Bennett

"A really fantastic experience... a meeting of minds."
Simon Schama, Historian and Broadcaster

"The best Salon since 1901."
Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Former Trader and Author ‘The Black Swan’

"It was an utterly brilliant and stimulating weekend."
William Eccleshare, President and CEO, Clear Channel International

"Thank you for a superb weekend – stimulating, creative, and beautifully organised."
Emily Kasriel, Executive Producer, ‘The Forum’, BBC World Service

"It was both thought-provoking and highly civilised."
James Mackintosh, Investment Editor, Financial Times

Saturday, 26th November, 2011

9.30-10.00

Arrivals and Greetings

10.15 - 10.30

Welcome messages from Julia Hobsbawm of Editorial Intelligence and Javed Gaya, Chair, Names Not Number Mumbai 2011.

One minute's Silence for the Victims of the Mumbai Attacks 26/11/2008 followed by music by classical Indian vocalist Purvi Parikh

10.30 - 10.45

Reflections: 26/11 and its aftermath
Recorded remarks from Nobel Laureate, Professor Amartya Sen, specially recorded at Trinity College, Cambridge for the occasion and Dr Shashi Tharoor MP, MP & author, on: '26/11: Three Years Later' .

10.45 - 11.30

India's Place in a Threatening World
Chair: James Crabtree, Financial Times
Panel to include: Mihir Bose, Writer & Broadcaster; Narinder Nayar, Mumbai First & Managing Director, Concast (India) Limited and Dr Shashi Tharoor MP, MP & Author and Tristram Hunt MP, author

11.30 – 11.45

Tea Break

11.45 - 12.45

Business Responsibility: Philanthropy and Individualism; Corporate Individuality and Accountability
Chair: Jo Johnson MP, former Associate Editor, Financial Times & author ‘Reconnecting Britain and India - Ideas for an Enhanced Partnership'
Panel to include: Vinita Bali, Managing Director, Britannia Industries Vikram Mehta, Chairman, Shell India; Nasser Munjee, Chairman, DCB and Roopa Purushothaman, Managing Director – Research, Everstone Capital Advisors Pvt Ltd

12.45 – 14.15

Launch of Financial Times India app in the gardens over lunch. Including remarks from Rob Grimshaw, Managing Director, FT.com

14.15

Afternoon Session Begins. Welcome remarks from Rob Lynes, British Council.

14.15 – 15.05

The Influence of Cinema on Media & Communications
Chair: Professor Rachel Dwyer, Professor of Indian Culture and Cineman, SOAS
Panel: R Balakrishnan (Balki), Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas, Mumbai; Shyam Benegal, writer and director; Amit Khanna, Head, Reliance Entertainment and Meera Syal, Actor, writer and bestselling author

15.05 – 16.10

The New Digital Individual: Is New Technology Liberating or Enslaving?
Chair: Rob Grimshaw, Managing Director, FT.com
Panel: Aditya Dev Sood, Founder, Center for Knowledge Socities; Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder & CEO, Kyoorius Group; Dan Lloyd, Director of Public Policy for Emerging Markets, Vodafone & Nishant Shah, Director, the Center for Internet and Society

16.10 – 16.30

Tea Break

16.30 – 17.15

Crisis & Culture: Does Creativity Thrive on Turmoil?
Chair: Sujata Sen, British Council
Panel to include: Kishwar Desai, novelist & Winner Costa First Novel Award 2010; Dr. Rashmi Poddar, Director Jnanapravaha Mumbai Art History & Aesthetics and Parmesh Shahani, Head of India Culture Lab, author of ‘Gay Bombay’, and editor-at-large of ‘Verve’

17.15 – 18.15

One To One : Writer & critic A.A. Gill in conversation with bestselling food writer Camellia Panjabi

19.00 - 21.00

Evening cocktail reception hosted by The Oberoi Group.

See the bios of the speakers here
For the list of partners, click here
For registrations, click here
About Editorial Intelligence, see here

The details about the event was published in Editorial Intelligence, it can be read here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/names-not-numbers

M-governance gains momentum

praskrishna — 2011-11-21T03:46:37Z

Governments worldwide have successfully deployed mobile-based technologies for providing a wide variety of public services, and the Indian States are following suit.

A few years ago, Kerala launched ‘Dr. SMS,' an m-health information system, for providing information on medical facilities available in the locality of the resident. Goa followed, with a mobile governance initiative for issuing alerts for receipt of government applications and complaints and status tracking. Next came Maharashtra. It adopted a similar traffic management system through mobile alerts.

"It is obvious, from the way in which mobile markets have grown in India, that not only are mobile phone-based applications are popular, but they are also more inclusive in their reach because it is a medium that people are familiar with," says Nishant Shah, director-research, Centre for Internet and Society in Bangalore.

A laudable initiative launched by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in September tries to use technology in an area that requires continuous monitoring. A mobile phone-based Intelligent Garbage Monitoring System enables sanitary supervisors to report the status of cleaning of garbage bins through their GPS-enabled mobile phones. Centralised reports as well as those of individual bins can be generated with the system. The map with a GIS interface spans all areas of the city. Managing the number of trips, gathering daily summary of the clearance and, most importantly, reports of the bins that are full but have not been cleared can also be obtained.

When trash is collected, each bin is photographed with a camera phone. The image is loaded on the website, where it is monitored by an administrator in the municipality office. Earlier, the clearing of bins was monitored through information from sanitary supervisors.

"The manual process consumes a lot of time. The use of information technology to monitor municipal services can also increase worker productivity," says S. Raghavendra, administration officer, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Experts say that though mobile applications for public services delivery use light technologies, they require collaboration among all stakeholders.

This article by Vasudha Venugopal was published in the Hindu on November 20, 2011. The original can be read here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/m-governance

SOPA: The bill that could kill the Internet

praskrishna — 2011-11-18T07:26:30Z

As the US government’s House Judiciary Committee begins hearings on the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, (SOPA), both supporters and opponents are ramping up their campaigning, with big names getting involved. And so they should. SOPA’s stakes are no less than the future of the Internet itself.

The key problem with SOPA is that it seeks to allow any copyright holder to sever any website’s relationship with online advertising networks or credit card processing services, simply by pointing the finger. As Ars Technica explains:

Calling its plan a “market-based system to protect US customers and prevent US funding of sites dedicated to theft of US property,” the new bill gives broad powers to private actors. Any holder of intellectual property rights could simply send a letter to ad network operators like Google and to payment processors like MasterCard, Visa, and PayPal, demanding these companies cut off access to any site the IP holder names as an infringer.

[…] So long as the intellectual property holders include some “specific facts” supporting their infringement claim, ad networks and payment processors will have five days to cut off contact with the website in question.

The bill also gives the government the power to get an injunction against foreign sites which would force ISPs to, within five days, ”prevent access by its subscribers located within the United States to the foreign infringing site.” Essentially, it obliges ISPs to break their own DNS servers by filtering or redirecting users who try to access an accused site. It would also ban any tools which allow circumvention of such blocks.

It doesn’t take a genius to see how this could be abused: An aggrieved party accuses a site of infringement, with or without reliable evidence, and suddenly that site can no longer accept credit cards or PayPal payments and its advertising revenue dries up completely. And we know that the IP industry isn’t above false accusations of copyright infringement. It’s not just business websites that could be affected, but open source projects too.

Opponents currently include businesses such as Google, Facebook, Zynga, eBay, Twitter, Yahoo!, AOL, and LinkedIn who, together, sent a letter; advocates such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Reporters Without Borders, and Human Rights Watch; as well as eleven members of the House of Representatives who have also written a letter to the House Judiciary Committee. Another letter from human rights groups includes India’s Centre for Internet and Society as well as the Church of Sweden.

There are also complaints that the House Judiciary Committee is trying to push the legislation through with undue haste. Says PCWorld:

Critics of the legislation also complained that the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee appears to be fast-tracking the bill before opposition can build. At a 10 am hearing Wednesday, five of six witnesses are likely to speak in favor of SOPA, with only Google opposed. Witnesses the Motion Picture Association of America, trade union the AFL-CIO and pharmaceutical company Pfizer have all voiced support for the bill.

No public interest groups, Internet engineers or human rights groups have been invited to the hearing, said Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, a digital rights group. “This is really being railroaded, without a full public debate,” she said.

Indeed, the tone of the Committee’s so-called fact sheet, which lays out a series of ‘myths’ and ‘facts’, gives cause for concern, implying as it does that they have already decided which side of the fence they will land on. What is also disturbing is that the US Copyright Office — which as a part of the Library of Congress, one would expect to be impartial and evidence-led — will be offering an “unqualified endorsement“:

“It is my view that if Congress does not continue to provide serious responses to online piracy, the US copyright system will ultimately fail,” [Copyright Office director Maria] Pallante’s testimony says.

Pallante and representatives from Pfizer, the Motion Picture Association of America, the AFL-CIO, and Mastercard, all of whom support the bill, will be testifying tomorrow before the House Judiciary committee.

For Americans who are unimpressed by this latest move from the content industries to control the Internet, there is a letter writing campaign encouraging people to contact their congressperson. For non-Americans, Avaaz has set up a Save the Internet petition which currently has 70,000 signatures and is racking up hundreds of new signatures every minute.

There’s no doubt that tech journalists, free software advocates and digital rights campaigners and internet businesses worldwide will be glued to coverage of today’s Judiciary hearing. But, given the power of the copyright industry’s lobbying arms, it is hard to expect discussions to conclude satisfactorily. It may just be that the entire Internet will have to rely on the strength of the US Constitution, which SOPA may contravene, to save it.

This article by Suw Charman-Anderson was published in Firspost.Technology on November 16, 2011. The original can be read here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/bill-could-kill-internet

International human rights community vs SOPA

praskrishna — 2011-11-28T10:15:11Z

The Centre for Internet and Society was mentioned in a news story published in BoingBoing. Cory Doctorow wrote the story published on November 17, 2011.

An enormous, diverse global coalition of press freedom and human rights groups have signed onto a letter (PDF) opposing America's Stop Online Piracy Act, the worst proposed Internet law in the USA's legislative history. Included signatories are as varied as India's Center for Internet and Society, the Church of Sweden, Colombia's Karisma, the UK Open Rights Group, and Reporters Without Borders. The letter itself is a great piece of writing: "This is as unacceptable to the international community as it would be if a foreign country were to impose similar measures on the United States." (Thanks, Alan!)

Read the original published in BoingBoing here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/sopa

The 2nd IJLT-CIS Lecture Series — A Post-event Report

praskrishna — 2011-11-17T10:25:56Z

The Indian Journal of Law and Technology (IJLT) and the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), organised the 2nd IJLT-CIS Lecture Series on the 21st and 22nd of May 2011 at the National Law School of India University, Nagarbhavi, Bangalore. The main theme for this year was Emerging Issues in Privacy Law: Law, Policy and Practice.

Speakers and Topics

Spread over two days, the National Law School hosted six speakers who held forth on the different aspects of privacy law, speaking from perspectives that were grounded in theory and actual practice and some that were India-centric while others applied equally to any jurisdiction.

Vivek Durai, Partner, Atman Law Partners, addressed the gathering and gave the general introduction to the need for a discussion relating to privacy and the law. He spoke of technology and certain current events, including technological advances, have made privacy an issue with which serious engagement of the law has become imperative.

Usha Ramanathan, an independent law researcher, spoke of the Unique Identity Project (Aadhar) launched by the Government of India and its implications on the privacy and data relating to the citizens. Ms. Ramanathan was critical of the Government’s plans on the basis that an ill-planned and executed project that sought to collect data such as this could provide easy fodder for data-mining. The latest 2011 rules that outline the relationship between the citizen and the state and the extent of privacy the citizen has in respect of this relationship.

Hamish Fraser, a leading Australian practitioner in the field of technology law, addressed the gathering via video conference and spoke about cloud computing and privacy of parties using such facilities. He highlighted how technology such as cloud computing where the storage of data is almost fully virtual, with only the weakest of links to any physical storage space, were being increasingly widely used. He helped provide a practitioners perspective to the lecture as well by discussing how companies and individuals seeking to utilise cloud computing facilities, particularly for business purposes, must check for some essential legal provisions that would allow them to retain control over their data and prevent their data from being misappropriated by the provider of the virtual storage space in the cloud. He briefly also discussed the draft Australian privacy legislation.

Sean Blagsvedt, founder of Baba Jobs, discussed the interplay between privacy and transparency and argued convincingly that under certain circumstances, transparency holds greater value than blind protection of privacy. He spoke of his experience in setting up Baba Jobs that seeks to act as a job portal-cum-social networking site for persons providing essential services such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, house painters, etc. Rather than seeking to strictly protect the details and identity of these persons, Blagsvedt found that one of the most important factors for future employers while considering hiring such service personnel were the details of their previous assignments and testimonials from previous employers – the transparency that Baba Jobs offered became its USP. Blagsvedt talked of how a misplaced over-emphasis on privacy could often lead to greater detriments than benefits and prevent trust due to a lack of information. He concluded by predicting that as people increasingly shifted social and commercial transactions to the online world, the demands for privacy online would soon be offset by demands for greater transparency.

Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Professor of Law at the Azim Premji University, Bangalore delivered a lecture on the state and privacy in India illustrating the development of the law on the matter. He also discussed about the balance that needs to be struck between the individual’s requirement for privacy and the state’s desire for secrecy. He also spoke about two manners in which to conceptualise privacy — recognising privacy as an inherent right that may be at times restricted to a certain extent, vis-a-vis seeing privacy as a right that the state grants to a citizen.

Abhayraj Naik, Assistant Professor, Jindal Global Law School, Sonepat, gave a lecture on informational privacy in comparative contexts. The discussion centred on information surveillance in different jurisdictions and how the values attached to the attribution of information reflects in the laws relating to privacy in those different jurisdictions. His approach included mathematical modelling of information attribution and provided an interdisciplinary approach.

Participation

The lecture series saw registration from over 50 people, including students from law schools all over the country, practitioners, and even educators. Since the lectures were streamed live online, and this was only the second event in NLS to use this facility apart from the Annual Convocation, many more people listened to the lectures online. The lectures were available online for a period of one week after the conclusion of the lecture series.

IJLT-CIS Lecture Series 2011 Registration

The following people participated in the event:

Adithya Banavar, Akanksha Arora, Anand VJ, Aniket Singhania, Ankit Verma, Anupama Kumar, Aparna Gokhale, Arjun Krishnamoorthy, Arjun Sharma, Arun Menon, Asif Ayaz, B. N. Vivek, Batool, Chirag Tanna, Deepakar Livingston.P., Deepthi R, Dheer Bhatnagar, Dinesh Subramany, Esha Goel, Gopalakrishnan R., J Suresh, Jamshed Ansari, Kanti Jadia, Khadeeja Nadeem, Khumtiya Debbarma, Mani Bhushan, Manish, Nayan Jain, Neha Baglani, Panduranga Acharya, Partha Chakravarty, Parul Bali, Prashanth Ramdas, Prateek Rath, Preyanka Sapru, Prianca Ravichander, Priytosh Singh, Purushotham.G, Ralph A, Ruhi Chanda, S. Badrinath, S. Bhushan, S. K. Mohanty, Sahana Manjesh, Sanjana Chappalli, Santosh Dindima, Shalini Iyengar, Shalini S, Sibani Saxena, Spoorthy M. S., Tarang Shashishekar, Tarun Kovvali, Tejaswini Rajkumar, Vaishali Kant, and Y. Shiva Santosh Kumar.

See the Letter of Agreement [PDF, 1 MB]

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/ijlt-cis-lecture-series-report

Broadband user base still has a long way to go

praskrishna — 2011-11-16T02:59:38Z

Internet users in India have crossed the 100-million mark, still distant from China’s nearly 500 million and the 250 million or so in the US, but experts are buoyant about prospects in cyberspace even as low broadband penetration and poor online payment and distribution channels persist as hurdles.

Abhishek Goenka, partner, BMR Advisors, who leads the firm’s real estate and information technology practice, agreed.
"While the over 100 million users comprise less than 10% of India’s population, it is 20-30% of the urban population, which is an exciting enough number," he said.

India and China are strengthening their position in the global Internet ecosystem rapidly, a May 2011 McKinsey report had noted.

"Both countries show growth rates of over 20%," said the report, even as it pegged the total (estimated) worldwide contribution of the Internet at $1.67 trillion (2.9% of total gross domestic product).

It added that public expenditure on the Internet—including spending for consumption and investment by the government on software, hardware, services and telecoms—ranged widely from 5% of the total GDP contribution in India to more than 20% in the UK, the US, Brazil and Russia.

Despite the optimism in the industry, there is a consensus that unless broadband numbers and speeds increase, meaningful commerce on the Internet will not happen in India.

Broadband subscriber figures stood at a mere 12.69 million in August, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). In contrast, China had around 364 million broadband users (98.1% penetration) in 2010, according to InternetWorldStats.

This has a bearing on growth—a 2009 World Bank report suggested that GDP expansion in developing countries gets a boost of 1.38 percentage points for every 10 percentage point increase in broadband penetration.

An October 2011 report by Ericsson, Arthur D Little and Chalmers University of Technology in 33 Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, confirmed that doubling the broadband speed increases GDP by 0.3% which, in the OECD region, is equivalent to $126 billion. The study also revealed that further doubling speed can yield growth in excess of 0.3%.

Kartik Hosanagar, an associate professor at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and co-founder of Yodle Inc., agreed that the definition of broadband in India (256 kbps and above) should be upgraded to international standards (1 Mbps and above) while adding that the 100 million mark "is a very important number, since it provides a big enough market for large firms wanting to play in it".

Sunil Abraham, executive director at the Centre For Internet and Society said the broadband volume was small and that India was not a big market like China.

He rued that the government had not done enough to facilitate broadband adoption, the way it did for mobile phones. There were around 866 million wireless connections till this August and 70% of them were active, according to Trai.

Shree Parthasarathy, senior director, Enterprise Risk Services, Deloitte India, listed weaknesses in the 100 million-plus Internet user base, with most people still using it to check email and social sites.

In the 30 urban cities where the survey was conducted, 89% use it to access email, 71% for social networking, 64% to search education-related content, 55% for chat and 49% to access video, music and images, according to the latest IAMAI report.

Online transactions are not a significant part of this as yet. "It will increase in years to come, particularly when people begin to see more value in e-stores than brick and mortar stores," Parthasarathy said.

Murthy of Pinstorm offered a different perspective—the reach of the Internet now rivals television, he said. "To reach an upscale audience in India, the Internet is now the only mass medium—TV is a niche medium here. This is a reversal of traditional roles."

Goenka of BMR Advisors, however, said the comparison of Internet penetration with the reach of TV sets was unfair and that the two markets were very different. "TV units are also found in semi-urban and rural areas, whereas the 100 million Internet (users) are indicative of the spending powers of these users. It is a good indication for e-commerce companies."

Analysts like Goenka of BMR Advisors and Raghav Anand, associate director, Ernst and Young India, contended that smartphones and 3G networks would accelerate the growth of the user base.

“The 120 million Internet user base indicates that the run rate is good, and it could be 200 to 250 million in two to three years,” Anand said. “The numbers are significant and anyone looking at investing or scaling up should do it now. The growth rates are making Internet play very interesting.”

Since 75% of the users are young, adult males, “it is a very attractive segment for advertisers also”, he said. Of the 250 million Internet users in three years that he predicts, “120-130 million would be through phones.

This article by Leslie D’Monte & Deepti Chaudhary was originally published in Livemint on 15 November 2011. It can be read here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/broadband-long-way-to-go

The Write Stuff

praskrishna — 2011-11-14T03:32:00Z

“Digital natives are no longer those youngsters who fit in the bracket of a Harvard return professional, glued to their PC all day,” says Nishant Shah, director of research, Centre for Internet and Society, a Bengaluru-based organisation. For Nishant, and many youngsters across the globe, digital natives are not any of those secluded geeks who spend hours on the Internet. “I am a homemaker, yet I am a digital native,” says Nilofer Ansher, a community manager who manages members from across three continents.

A housewife, a young college graduate, a freelance writer, an NGO professional and many other individuals are behind the Internet activist flurry. Digital Natives, Fair Observer, PC Tech Magazine are just a few of the newsletters and forums that are connecting youngsters from across the globe and are mobilising them to do something beyond information gathering.

Youth-related discussions, inventions in make-shift laboratories from the backyards of homes in Nigeria and action against corruption across the globe; these are just some of the activities that these netizens are involved in. “The idea was to build a network of people from across the globe who are passionate about what they do. We are not talking countries, it is all to do with people with similar interests,” says Shah, who collaborated with Hivos to create the online platform called Digital Natives.

The members collaborate online to write about various issues. But these online movements can have serious repercussions, “In fact, Alaa Abdel-Fattah, one of Egypt’s most vocal activists and bloggers, has been detained. He is our team member. We are now running a campaign supporting his early release,” says Ansher who doubles up as a co-editor of one of these newsletters. Various discussions have led to solutions. “My first challenge was to create a communication system for illiterate farmers. But I wanted a definite solution. So another member from mobile active community sent a message and it worked and we are following the same system,” says Ajay Kumar, manager, ICT operations.

This article was published in the Deccan Chronicle on 14 November 2011. It can be read here

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/news/write-stuff