Researchers Protest Political Interference in Science

WATERLOO — Ottawa's political interference in science hurts Canadians in a lot of ways — from affecting municipal planning decisions to jeopardizing big scientific breakthroughs, according to the lobby group for the country's academic researchers.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers launched a series of town halls called Get Science Right Tuesday at the Waterloo Public Library's main branch, the first salvo in an effort to alert Canadians to what they say is an alarming trend in science policy.

Tuesday's panel featured three locals — University of Waterloo physicist Melanie Campbell, Wilfrid Laurier University neuroscientist Jeffrey Jones and University of Waterloo philosopher David DeVidi.

DeVidi said in an interview that federal cuts to science isn't just an issue affecting "academics in university." The Harper government's decision to kill off the long-form census hurts everyday things, like this region's ability to plan for light rail transit, he said.

For the full article The Record | Sept. 17, 2013