Science and innovation are more important at the highest levels of government than ever before, and are increasingly fundamental to good governance across sectors.
Our S&I experts are working to equip public servants with the innovative tools they’ll need to lead and manage in a context of accelerating, disruptive change.
This can mean:
- Working to engage a scientific community to mobilize scientific knowledge for public policy and mission purposes
- Employing foresight and seizing new technological opportunities as they arise
- Championing evidence-based decision making
Science and innovation partnered with good governance is how public service leaders will distinguish themselves in an increasingly disrupted landscape – now and in the years to come.
Leadership Development Program in Science and Innovation
The Leadership Development Program in Science and Innovation (LDPSI) is an intensive program for those who work in and across science, innovation, and policy.
It is also for those who aspire to lead in these areas. Participants study the cultures of science, innovation and policy – where they intersect, how they work together, how they influence Canadian society, and how individuals can have impact and achieve results.
Government Science and Innovation in the New Normal
A multi-year, collaborative research initiative designed to support medium-term planning for the federal science and innovation departments and agencies, and provide an in-depth examination of the evolving relationship among science, innovation and society.
Learn about some of our other work
Roundtable on Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science: Summary of Literature
1 minute read On 8 February, the IOG and the Office
Learn More
The Present and Future State of Synthetic Biology in Canada
1 minute read The synthetic biology community convened on March 6-7,
Learn MoreCanada’s leading science and innovation team
IOG is Canada’s only think tank with science and innovation governance as a focused practice area. We are committed to helping public sector leaders who need to move the needle on science and innovation policy do so in a way that maximizes benefit to citizens and society.
Experts
Rhonda Moore
Executive Director, Science & Innovation
Expertise: science and innovation, science communications, facilitation Degree(s): Bachelor of Public Relations (BPR), Mount Saint Vincent University, Masters in Science, Technology and Innovation Studies (MSc), University of Edinburgh For almost 20 years, Rhonda Moore has worked at the intersection of communications, research, and policy analysis and development. At that intersection, Rhonda has sought out opportunities to build relationships, to […]
Paul Mayers
Associate
Paul has more than 18 years of experience in as an executive leading program design and delivery, risk management and policy development. This includes over 6 years as Vice President, Policy and Program and of the Science Branch at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). In addition to his executive leadership within Canada, Paul has […]
Geoff Munro
Associate, Faculty
Geoff Munro was the Chief Scientist of NRCan (retired Dec 2013) and in this capacity advanced the work of the departmental Science and Technology Board and helped to drive the corporate priority of “Mobilizing our Science & Technology”. Mr. Munro was first appointed Chief Scientist at NRCan in 2007 and carried out this role while […]
Ezra Miller
Associate
Ezra Miller has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Queen’s University, respectively. He worked for 16 years, in the 1980s and 1990s, in the federal government beginning in energy policy at Energy, Mines and Resources (now NRCan) and later focusing on his main interest in science, technology and […]
Science and Innovation Advisory Council
IOG’s science and innovation practice area is further informed by members of our Science and Innovation Advisory Council. Each is a leading figure in her/his own right. Meet them here:
Rees Kassen, Chair
Professor, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa
Dr. Rees Kassen is Full Professor and Cystic Fibrosis Canada Researcher at the University of Ottawa. He is internationally recognized for his work with microbes as models for studying the evolution of biodiversity, antibiotic resistance, and the development of chronic infections in respiratory disease. Rees has played leading roles at the interface between science, society, […]
Jenn MacLean, Vice Chair
Assistant Vice-President, Innovation and Research Partnerships at York University
Dr. Jennifer MacLean is Assistant Vice-President, Innovation and Research Partnerships at York University. She is leading York’s innovation activities, developing and implementing the innovation strategy and building key partnerships to advance the University’s research, innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship and knowledge mobilization priorities. Preceding York University, she was Vice President of Research and Innovation at Aspire Food […]
Sarah Everts
Associate Professor, CTV Chair in Digital Science Journalism, Carleton University
Sarah Everts joined Carleton University in 2019 after more than a decade in Berlin, Germany, where she reported on science and technology for a variety of publications including Scientific American, New Scientist, Smithsonian, Chemical & Engineering News and others. Her work has garnered several awards and accolades, such as inclusion in the 2017 Best American […]
Marcius Extavour
Vice President, Energy and Climate, Carbon XPrize
Dr. Marcius Extavour is a leader and expert in climate tech, carbon removal, and new energy technologies. As Vice President, Energy & Climate at XPRIZE he leads the $100-million XPRIZE Carbon Removal supported by Elon Musk, and the recently-awarded $20 million NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, a global competition to recycle CO2 into valuable products. He […]
Monica Gattinger
Director, Institute for Science, Society, and Policy, and Professor of Political Science, and Chair, Positive Energy, University of Ottawa
Monica Gattinger is Director of the Institute for Science, Society, and Policy, Full Professor at the School of Political Studies and Founder/Chair of Positive Energy at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Gattinger is an award-winning researcher and highly sought-after speaker, adviser and media commentator in the energy and arts/cultural policy sectors. Her innovative research programme […]
Danika Goosney
Director and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Museum of Nature
Dr. Danika Goosney joined NSERC in February 2019 as Vice-President, Research Grants and Scholarships Directorate. She obtained her Bachelor of Science (first class honours) from St. Francis Xavier University and her PhD in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Biotechnology Laboratory (now the Michael Smith Labs) at the University of British Columbia, for which […]
Rachael Maxwell
Executive Director, Evidence for Democracy (E4D)
Rachael Maxwell joins Evidence for Democracy with a deep knowledge of the science landscape in Canada and a strong track record of success working at national not-for-profit research organizations. From 2018-21 she held progressively responsible roles at Genome Canada, working across the organization on key priorities in communications, public affairs and strategic planning. Previously, Rachael […]
Eric Meslin
President and CEO, Council of Canadian Academies
Eric M. Meslin, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS is President and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). Eric joined the CCA in 2016 after 25 years in university and government settings, including the previous 15 years at Indiana University where he was Founding Director of the IU Center for Bioethics, Associate Dean for Bioethics in […]
Pascal Michel
Director General, Ontario-Quebec Region, Science and Technology Branch Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Government of Canada / Directeur général pour la région du Québec et de l`Ontario au sein d’Agriculture et Agro-alimentaire Canada
English version follows Depuis 2022, Dr Pascal Michel occupe le poste de Directeur général pour la région du Québec et de l`Ontario au sein d’Agriculture et Agro-alimentaire Canada. À ce titre, il est responsable de huit centres de recherches et de développement travaillant de concert avec l’industrie, le milieu universitaire et d’autres partenaires pour créer […]
Aynslie Ogden
Director, Science and Technology, Polar Knowledge Canada
Dr. Aynslie Ogden recently joined Polar Knowledge Canada in the position of Director, Science and Technology. Aynslie has 20 years of experience developing and advising on research program excellence in Canada’s North including 12 years in the leadership role of Science Advisor to the Government of Yukon. In this role she provided strategic direction on […]
Peter W. B. Phillips
Distinguished Professor, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy; Associate Member, Department of Bio-resource, Policy, Business and Economics, College of Agriculture; and Associate Member, Department of Economics, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Peter Phillips is Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of the Johnson-Shoyama Center for the Study of Science and Innovation Policy. He earned his Ph.D. at the LSE and practiced for 13 years as a professional economist in industry and government. At the University of Saskatchewan, he was the Van Vliet Research Professor, created and […]