Editorial - 29-3

What to make of the appointment of Tom Jenkins as chair of the National Research Council's governing council? Reaction throughout the S&T community appears to be largely positive, particularly among those who look favourably on the agency's transformation into a research and technology organization.

Removing the chair's position as one of the duties of the NRC president is seen as a progressive move. There is mounting evidence that when one person holds both positions, it can lead to a lack of oversight that ultimately diminishes board independence. Having a second person heading the governing council adds a challenge function to the NRC executive — a structure that's gaining favour in the corporate world.

So far so good. But what about Jenkins' view of the NRC. Less than four years ago, he chaired an expert panel on federal support for R&D that called for the NRC to be dismantled (R$, October 17/11). It also recommended the NRC's Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) be transferred to a proposed Industrial Research and Innovation Council (never implemented) and that the agency's business-related institutes be transformed into national institutes motivated by industry needs. Academically focused institutes would become affiliated with one or more universities while NRC policy functions would be transferred to relevant government departments.

These dramatic changes never transpired and Jenkins is reportedly satisfied with the transformation that has occurred. But it's safe to say that future NRC council meetings could be lively indeed.