Science Integrity Project hopes to stimulate public debate with statement of principles

The Science Integrity Project (SIP) has released a statement of principles for the use of sound science-backed decision-making in the midst of the federal election. While its backers say the timing is coincidental, the non-partisan group hopes they will prove beneficial in stimulating public debate on the importance of using science when developing sound policy and ultimately legislation.

SIP brings together more than 75 science policy experts from across Canada and has also conducted more than 30 in-depth interviews with science policy leaders, culminating in a February/15 national forum where more than 60 scientists and public policy analysts achieved consensus on the principles. SIP is managed and financially supported by Tides Canada, a national charity focused on social wellness and environmental issues.

"This is not just a federal exercise since the application of science to policy is not limited to any one government or level of government," says David Secord, Tides Canada's director of Strategic Programs. "There are good and bad practices in canada going back 50 years."

Secord says they decided that focusing on sciences and corresponding issues was too narrow so the group chose to focus on the use of evidence as it includes both the natural, medical and social sciences as well as indigenous knowledge.

"At the forum, we tried to identify the issue accurately. Science and muzzling is only one symptom of a way bigger problem," says Secord. "We should be inspired by the range of evidence that exists and create mechanisms to help get it into decision-making. I encourage our leaders to do creative things with it."

FMI: www.scienceintegrity.ca.

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