The State of Canada’s Science Culture

This past August, the Council of Canadian Academies released a comprehensive report on the state of Canada’s science culture. The report presents numerous strengths and weaknesses in Canadians general attitude and engagement in science. Overall, the report reflects quite positively on the Canadian public with Canadians ranking highest in the world in their interest in scientific discoveries and their participation in science-related issues. Furthermore, over 42% of the population demonstrate a basic level of scientific literacy which ranks first out of 35 countries surveyed.

On the weak side, Canada ranks fairly low in the percentage of its population that are employed in scientific occupations and in the percent of university degrees being awarded in science and engineering. This is despite the fact that Canada ranks first among all OECD countries in the percent of its population aged 25-64 with tertiary education.

Below is a list of the report’s most significant findings:

Strengths (aside from what was stated above)

• Canadians express the fewest reservations about science compared to populations in other countries
• 93% of the population reports being very interested in new scientific discoveries
• 32% of the population has visited a science and technology museum at least once in previous year
• 49% of first university degrees in science fields are awarded to women

Other Notables:

• 76% of population agree that the government should support science even if it doesn’t have immediate impact (12th out of 35 countries
• 54% of all doctoral degrees are in science and engineering fields
• 49% of first university degrees in science fields are awarded to women

To read the full report visit Science Culture: Where Canada Stands.

Fighting Blindness With Canadian Ingenuity

One of the mysteries of blindness has been solved. A team of international scientists in collaboration with the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI MUHC) identified a new gene responsible for Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), a devastating genetic form of blindness in newborns. What makes this discovery so exceptional is that this new gene called NMNAT1 – known to be crucial for life – has never been associated with any human disease. This is the first time such a major correlation has been established. The study was published today in the journal Nature Genetics.

 

Read more…

Canada’s Stem Cell Legacy

Biotechnology Kids

The Bow Valley’s scientific minds

The Canadian Rockies 5th Annual Regional Science Fair was held recently with 167 students from Banff and Canmore. The one-day showcase was held at Lawrence Grassi Middle School on Friday, March 23.

Click here to see previous Canadian Biotechnologist2.0 Kids posts

Canadian discovery unrecognized for 37 years!

It’s wild to think that two Canadians were responsible for a monumental discovery that would change the face of medical research forever. It’s even more mind-boggling knowing that their discovery remained largely unpublicized for over 37 years! Check out yesterday’s Globe and Mail to read more about Armstrong McCulloch and James Edgar Till’s discovery of human stem cells.