Royal Society prepares to begin conducting assessments as part of new strategic direction

First of five regional offices open

The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) is executing an ambitious new strategic plan to expand its range of influence and revive operations that were in danger of becoming detached from the innovation mainstream. Armed with aggressive new leadership and the backing of its 1,800-strong fellowship, the 126-year-old organization has opened the first of five planned regional offices and is finalizing a planned return to the business of conducting expert panel assessments on contentious issues of importance to the nation.

A major fundraising campaign initiated last year has raised more than $3 million towards its $5-million goal which will help operationalize the regional offices with a major focus on encouraging youth to pursue higher education. Last month, the RSC held a symposium on The Cultures of War and Peace, with a keynote speech by Romeo Dallaire. The event attracted more than 400 delegates including 300 students from across the country, compared to just 70 for the 2007 version of the symposium.

"We want to demonstrate that the Royal Society is a unique institution … transitioning from an honourific society to a national academy. We want to mobilize our unique assets," says RSC director Darren Gilmour. "We feel strongly that we are positioned and obliged to reach out when Canada needs more leadership … There's been an incredible shift and step forward that we have taken by moving to a model that enhances our social purpose."

The forward momentum of the RSC is in stark contrast to just two years ago when the organization was in crisis. It was saddled with less-than-stellar leadership and inadequate funding. There was also resentment over the status accorded the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) — which nominally represents the societies that comprise the RSC. The CCA had usurped the RSC's traditional role as the facilitator of expert assessments and its funding cannot be used by the member societies to conduct assessments.

At the administrative level, the office space that was being provided by the federal government was withdrawn, causing the organization to scramble to find new quarters. It is now located in an old house on the campus of the Univ of Ottawa.

Staff also became a huge issue, with a nearly complete turnover of administrative personnel in the past year, including its director. Gilmour arrived last May and is tasked with assembling a staff that can effectively implement the new strategic plan.

Current president Dr Yvan Guindon — a former executive with big pharma and CEO and scientific director of the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montreal — has aggressively taken the reins of the RSC. He has worked to place it back on an even keel and has introduced three standing committees to provide leadership on strategic planning, outreach coordination and expert panels and other studies.

The fundraising campaign is being conducted by the RSC President's Advisory Committee, which was created by Dr Howard Alper when he served as RSC president between 2001 and 2003. The council is chaired by Sandra Irving, (Irving Oil) and Laurent Beaudoin, president of Bombardier.

The regional offices will be important delivery mechanisms for the enhanced mentorship role the RSC is now engaged in, allowing its fellowship to be more pro-active and engaged. The president's advisory council co-chair (Irving) is said to be particularly enthusiastic about this function of the RSC and was instrumental in opening the first office in Halifax. The majority of the proceeds from fundraising will go towards establishing the offices.

"Our mandate is to liaise with our partners and enlarge the circle," says Gilmour. "Many private sector supporters are keen on aligning themselves with our interest in encouraging post-secondary education."

assessments to examine controversial issues

Perhaps the most dramatic development at the RSC is its decision to get back into the game of assembling expert panels for assessments on important topics where its membership can contribute time and expertise. Given the CCA's role in that space, the RSC has decided to tackle topics of a more contentious or controversial nature — topics unlikely to be sponsored by government.

Gilmour won't reveal what topics are being considered, but issues such as euthanasia, and nuclear energy are reportedly being considered.

"We plan to re-launch (assessments) this year but it's too early to say if topics have been identified," says Gilmour. "The RSC process will choose topics from the bottom up from our fellowship and committees. We receive no government funding so we have independence."

The CCA's funding ($30 million over 10 years from Industry Canada) means the majority of the assessments it undertakes are topics suggested by government. Although it theoretically has the flexibility to conduct assessments for other clients, it has yet to do so.

The last assessment the RSC conducted was in 2001 on genetically modified foods. Sponsored by three government departments or agencies, it created a firestorm of controversy but is considered a fiercely independent take on a hot button issue.

Seeking matching federal support

Without support form the CCA, RSC assessments will inevitably require sponsors which come in the form of a new class of membership. In cases where a sponsor cannot be found, revenue from new university and corporate members could be used to fund the work of expert panels.

However, the RSC could benefit greatly if it received some level of financial support from the federal government. In a November/07 speech delivered in Edmonton, Guindon said that while the fundraising campaign will support its objectives over the next four years "we hope that the Canadian government will at least match the support that we are able to raise from the community."

Gilmour says that the RSC hopes to attract federal support by demonstrating the importance of new and enhanced initiatives to Canadians at large. But he won't elaborate on whether the RSC is participating in direct discussions with federal bureaucrats.

"The RSC is committed to leading by example as a Canadian institution. We're moving to a model that enhances social purpose," he says. "We're encouraged and motivated by the ideas and by developing new programs and partners. People are paying more attention and that includes governments, both federal and provincial."

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