tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59755329450126268222024-03-20T17:58:09.546-07:00I vote for scienceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5975532945012626822.post-13161587001804334712008-09-18T18:33:00.000-07:002008-09-24T00:00:04.251-07:00For an electoral debate on scienceConsidering:<br /><br />- the many scientific and technological challenges faced by our societies, from global warming to genetic manipulation, from future energy sources to scientific education for young and old;<br /><br />- the need for accurate scientific information when our politicians make decisions on issues that affect our future;<br /><br />- that today’s investments in science can stimulate economic growth 10 or 20 years from now.<br /><br />We are calling for a public debate in which the candidates in Québec and Canadian elections will have to share their visions of the environment, health and medicine, science and technology.<br /><br /><a href="http://sciencepresse.qc.ca/ivoteforscience/"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Add your name to this petition!</span></a><br /><br /><a href="mailto:?subject=I vote for science: Circulate it!">Circulate it!</a><br /><br /><br />Suggest questions for the candidates by clicking on “Comments”.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5975532945012626822.post-25747910924124760412008-08-19T07:51:00.000-07:002008-09-24T12:09:08.679-07:00I vote for science!<span style="font-weight:bold;">When was the last time you heard a politician take a position on a scientific issue?</span> <br /><br />Science is all around us. It is at the heart of the issues that will have the most serious repercussions in the near future: climate change, genetically modified food, alternative energy, nanotechnology, assisted reproduction, surveillance technologies… <br /><br />Yet how many times are our political leaders confronted on these issues? What do we know about their attitude, perception and prejudices about research, pseudoscience and teaching science? <br /><br />Whenever a party unveils its political platform, whenever a candidate is questioned about his or her electoral promises, whenever the leaders face off in a television debate, we regret that the policies regarding two of the most important issues of our time – science and technology – are swept under the rug. This is why we want to ensure that this no longer happens.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I’m taking a stand for science</span> is a non-partisan initiative that appeals for a public, televised debate among the candidates in the next Québec and Canadian elections. <br /> <br />Such a debate would go well beyond science. The investments we make today in research will have an impact on technological innovation in the coming decades. Our energy choices will determine how we adapt to climate change and influence the quality of our ecosystems. Today’s moral concerns will be tomorrow’s ethical limits in medicine, genetics, privacy protection and our lifestyles. Educational priorities will have an impact on the place Québec schoolchildren of 2008 will occupy in a globalized economy 20 years from now.<br /><br />In other words, such a television debate would allow our future elected representatives to explore in depth their real priorities, their vision of education and how they view the future of our society.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SEVEN MAJOR ISSUES</span><br /><br />• <span style="font-weight:bold;">Putting an end to dependence on oil.</span> Fifty years from now, we must have changed direction, and this isn’t the type of change that can turn on a dime. Should we invest in wind energy, solar, biofuels, nuclear power? <br />• <span style="font-weight:bold;">Protecting the environment.</span> This has become an economic issue. The destruction of lakes and rivers will cost so much that even companies are starting to worry. The extinction of species can upset the food chain to an extent that nobody can predict. Finally, the question has a moral aspect: what kind of planet do we want to leave to our descendants? <br />• <span style="font-weight:bold;">Adapting to climate change.</span> The sooner we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the better, but the damage is already done. Changes are happening and will require adaptability, from agricultural disruption to the progression of imported infectious diseases and displacement of populations. <br />• <span style="font-weight:bold;">Editing the book of life.</span> Authorize more GMOs? Pursue stem cell research? What about the possibility of altering a baby’s genes before birth to make him “better and improved”? <br />• <span style="font-weight:bold;">Tomorrow’s health.</span> Genetic testing for everyone is knocking at the door. Is the population ready for the shock? What respite do we have before antibiotics can’t handle new mutations? Where do we want to invest as a priority: in the fight against aging diseases, in medications against psychological disorders, or in the war on “curable” diseases that are decimating poor countries? <br />• <span style="font-weight:bold;">Technological innovation.</span> While it’s true that we have entered the “knowledge society”, then our society’s capacity to innovate will determine its place on the playing field. Who will be the Bombardier of the 21st century? Where will Québec position itself in genetic research, information technology, aerospace or pharmaceuticals? <br />• <span style="font-weight:bold;">What role will scientific culture play?</span> Canadian students generally perform well in international surveys. But with the rise of Asia, will they stay competitive for long? What about the general public? Can we continue to be satisfied with the meagre place given to scientific popularization in the media and public institutions?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5975532945012626822.post-17169608587248951642008-07-19T08:00:00.000-07:002008-09-24T12:09:59.792-07:00They've already signed!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkfY35T2snSTLAkAKBiG8kCVhbYL2QiVRYJ9fnUuTS3KXg1yAeqS2PlT9MuvNmSHJtgBdqOjtXnFHBJNeLtXCeR5H9SATLUU6tE4_UOd7i79Xopw7DA0rSwlcuPslcE1Fce7F55MCk68/s1600-h/spst.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkfY35T2snSTLAkAKBiG8kCVhbYL2QiVRYJ9fnUuTS3KXg1yAeqS2PlT9MuvNmSHJtgBdqOjtXnFHBJNeLtXCeR5H9SATLUU6tE4_UOd7i79Xopw7DA0rSwlcuPslcE1Fce7F55MCk68/s320/spst.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247752406984168674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhn2-zvWKFYkG-Yrp70diL846vBH5IiipUXpAJ2KZ1NDjH-vpw54eVXThkVn1xE-adBD0ktvxdWkYJ-Z3N8na7-LtqgHbbbSe36lIxRAlXCx5RJi63cOdkzvFxVSNK3HrOIfZQVvS9mo/s1600-h/asp-petit.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhn2-zvWKFYkG-Yrp70diL846vBH5IiipUXpAJ2KZ1NDjH-vpw54eVXThkVn1xE-adBD0ktvxdWkYJ-Z3N8na7-LtqgHbbbSe36lIxRAlXCx5RJi63cOdkzvFxVSNK3HrOIfZQVvS9mo/s320/asp-petit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247749043844114114" /></a> <span style="font-weight:bold;">I vote for science</span> is an initiative of <a href="http://www.sciencepresse.qc.ca">Agence Science-Presse</a> with the assistance of <a href="http://www.spst.org">Société pour la promotion de la science et de la technologie</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The <a href="http://sciencepresse.qc.ca/ivoteforscience/signatories/">signatories</a> include</span><br /><br />Organizations<br />Association des communicateurs scientifiques<br />Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas)<br />Science pour tous <br /><br />Media and culture<br />Pierre Chastenay, Planétarium de Montréal<br />Eric Darier, Greenpeace<br />Josée Nadia Drouin, directrice, Agence Science-Presse<br />Jean-Marc Gagnon, éditeur, Éditions MultiMondes<br />Achille Hubert, éditeur, <i>Le Radar</i> (Iles-de-la-Madeleine)<br />Félix Maltais, éditeur, <i>Les Débrouillards</i><br />Diane Turcotte, Jardin botanique de Montréal<br /><br />Professors and researchers<br />Hugo Asselin, Unité d'enseignement et de recherche en sciences du développement humain, UQAT<br />Patrick Ayotte, département de chimie, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Marie-Flavie Auclair-Fortier, département d'informatique, U. de Sherbrooke <br />André Barrette, Collège de Valleyfield<br />Marc Bigras, département de psychologie, UQAM<br />Jean-Luc Bédard, INRS-Urbanisation<br />Alexandre Bergeron, Jardin botanique de Montréal<br />Alexandre Blais, département de physique, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Guylain Boissonneault, département de biochimie, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Suzanne Brais, Unité d'enseignement et de recherche en sciences appliquées, UQAT<br />Geneviève Brisson, Institut national de santé publique du Québec<br />Sophie Calmé, département de biologie, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Frédéric Calon, Faculté de pharmacie, Université Laval<br />Daniel Chapdelaine, chimiste, UQAM<br />Jean-François Chassay, département d'études littéraires, UQAM<br />Pierre Cormier, École de psychologie, Université de Moncton<br />Hugo Cyr, faculté de science politique et de droit, UQAM<br />Pascal Drouin, Unité de recherche en agroalimentaire, UQAT<br />François Dubeau, département de mathématiques, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Alexandre Enkerli, département de sociologie et d'anthropologie, Université Concordia<br />Marco Festa-Bianchet, département de biologie, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Marc Frappier, département d'informatique, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Stéphanie Gagné, Université d'Helsinki<br />Gabriel Girard, département d'informatique, Université de Sherbrooke<br />Jean Goulet, département d'informatique, Université de Sherbrooke<br />Marianne Kugler, département d'information et de communications, Université Laval<br />Mario Lambert, mathématicien, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Robert Lamontagne, astronome, U. de Montréal<br />Luc Lavoie, département d'informatique, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Denis LeBel, vice-doyen à la recherche, Faculté des sciences, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Jean Lemire, biologiste<br />Jean Lessard, département de chimie, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Denis Morris, département de physique, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Normand Mousseau, département de physique, Université de Montréal<br />David Poulin, département de physique, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Sébastien Roy, département de biologie, U. de Sherbrooke<br />David Sénéchal, département de physique, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Bill Shipley, département de biologie, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Sébastien Simard, Centre de recherche du CHUL<br />Viktor Steimle, département de biologie, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Denise Sylvestre, biologiste, Cégep Bois-de-Boulogne<br />Marie-France Thibaudeau, Université de Montréal<br />Donald Thomas, doyen de la Faculté des sciences, U. de Sherbrooke<br />André-Marie Tremblay, département de physique, U. de Sherbrooke<br />Jean-Louis Trudel, Université d'Ottawa<br />Djemel Ziou, département d'informatique, U. de Sherbrooke<br /><br />Administration and politic<br />Luc Bouchard, directeur de la diffusion des enseignements, Télé-Université<br />Alexandre Boulerice, candidat NPD, Rosemont-Petite-Patrie<br />Yvan Dutil, astronome, candidat du Parti Vert provincial dans Jean-Talon<br />François Lizaire, Administrateur de programmes, ministère de l'Éducation de l'AlbertaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5975532945012626822.post-81149077058767300422008-04-19T07:46:00.000-07:002008-09-19T07:48:35.363-07:00A new topic for the election debatesBy Normand Baillargeon<br />Université du Québec à Montréal<br /><br />Imagine the scene.<br /><br />The candidates in the next federal or provincial election are in the midst of their third and last television debate. After dedicating one evening to the economy and another to social issues, they are discussing a totally different topic this evening, for the first time in history. What is it? <br /><br />Let’s listen.<br /><br />— “Given these data, on which the scientific community has reached a consensus, our Party is aware of the urgency of the situation. We are therefore proposing the measures set out in our program to fight global warming.” <br />— “We agree with this consensus and we share our opponents’ concerns. However, we think that they aren’t going far enough in the measures they propose. Also, their defence of educational reform is incompatible with a commitment to promote science and technology. All the surveys conducted show declining results for Québec schoolchildren in the sciences and mathematics. This is deplorable if we want to have a population capable of making an informed judgment on important questions like global warming. But it’s also crucial for the Québec economy to remain competitive while fighting global warming.”<br /><br />You’ve guessed it: the topic of this last election debate is science and technology. And the merits of such a discussion are so obvious that we can only wonder why we haven’t considered it sooner. <br /><br />Think about it. Science and technology are and will be at the centre of most of the issues and challenges – often immense – that the future holds in store for us. The environment, the economy, climate change, energy, biotechnology, medicine, transportation, communications: on each of these subjects, and on many others, the contribution of science and technology to the definition of the problems, the issues, the possible solutions, and even the vocabulary in which all this is expressed, is of the utmost importance. To ignore them is to condemn ourselves to the darkness of ignorance and put ourselves in the hands of ideologues of every stripe. To refuse to debate them collectively is to refuse to give the benefit of democratic conversation to sources of illuminating clarity that are indispensable if we don’t want to drown in propaganda. <br /><br />This debate would not only allow the candidates to set out their positions on all the crucial subjects mentioned above, it would have great educational value and contribute to the acquisition of a scientific culture by every one of us, which is absolutely essential to a real understanding of most of political, social and economic issues. <br /><br />This debate would make it possible to verify the attachment of our politicians to some of the values that characterize science and that should also characterize the democratic conversation — I am thinking, in particular, of intellectual honesty, the capacity to accept criticism, the ability to consider alternative hypotheses, the practice of constructive doubt and the recognition of the fallibility of our knowledge. <br /><br />For all these reasons, I ardently hope that a debate will be held on science and technology in the next election campaign. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Normand Baillargeon is a Professor at UQAM. He is the author of the best seller Petit cours d’autodéfense intellectuelle</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2