Reprinted from: CASCA Cassiopeia, 2001 June, no.109,
item 3e
Global Science: ICSU Maneuvers,
CISET Recommendations, CNC Actions, and You
by J.P. Vallée
* Global Science - ICSU *
On 2001 May 28 at NRC in Ottawa, representatives from Canadian Sciences were treated to plans by ICSU [see Note A, at the end] on the future of science on planet Earth as seen by the ICSU Executive Director, Dr. Larry Kohler. His goals included:
- free availability of raw databases in science,
- how to build bridges between disciplines, and
- sustainable development.
Larry obtained an M.A. degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, and a PhD. from Johns Hopkins University. NRC gives ICSU ~60 k$Can each year.
Data as a Right.
People who invest thought and time in scientific ethics know that they expect results to develop on a long time scale. To me, the most notable result being developed by ICSU has to do with free and easy access to raw scientific data that are obtained courtesy of public funds. In essence, raw scientific data will reach the same status as basic human rights, to be enshrined and protected in roughly the same legal way. A difference is made between basic, raw data and treated/calibrated data, the latter being exempt from free availability.
Already, raw scientific data from HIA's Canadian Astronomy Data Center [CADC] at NRC [obtained from publicly funded telescopes, i.e. JCMT, Gemini, CFHT] are free and easily available [albeit through a password-protected account to qualified enquirers]. Not every nation nor every field of science acts so nicely. I predict grumbling from the ESO Archives, Europe's counterpart to our CADC...
The push to have raw science data freely available is led by the ICSU Exec Director, Dr. Larry Kohler, and is being supported by 98 [paying] nations and 26 scientific unions. As the voice of science, ICSU aims at full and open access to data and information in the future. ICSU has other important goals in ethical areas, for the benefit and well-being of humanity. We are not yet ready to take the Hippocratic Oath!
Building Bridges Between Disciplines
Interdisciplinary communication is on the rise. Individuals in each research field are forging their own personal links in the other disciplines. Past institutional attempts at fostering joint projects were not as fruitful.
The tendencies to splinter scientific societies into mini-societies was deemed bad for global goals. This seems to be happening more in the bioscience world.
Sustainable Development
The push to help developing nations is continuing at a slow pace. Overall, I had the impression that more and more actions taken by ICSU are treading into the area of 'scientific ethics' and human rights. The ongoing development of a global scientific civilization requires sensitive and thoughtful leadership on the control and utilisation of the power coming from science and technology, and in my mind ICSU is well suited to the task. So is Larry Kohler.
* International Science - IAU, URSI, etc *
How are HIA, NRC, and CASCA involved? HIA is the 'NRC Partner' sponsoring the 'Canadian URSI', i.e. the Canadian National Committee [CNC Note B] of URSI [Note C]. The HIA Director General is invited to a NRC Partners /CISET [Note D] meeting held every other year. CASCA is the 'NRC Partner' sponsoring the 'Canadian IAU', i.e. the CNC of the International Astronomical Union [IAU]. The CASCA President is invited to a NRC Partners/CISET meeting.
In Ottawa on 2001 May 28, there was a joint session of the influential CISET with the 'NRC Partners', in support of the International Council for Science [ICSU]. The goals were partly to discuss global science in the next decade, and how Canada can contribute (via NRC or the NRC Partners).
Dr. Simon Lilly asked me if I could attend the CISET meeting on his behalf, given my responsibilities as member and Secretary for the CNC of URSI. Dr. Russ Taylor then asked me to attend on his behalf for the IAU CNC. Through NRC, Canada pays ~44 k$Can yearly to the IAU, and ~11 k$Can to URSI. The NRC Partners support the CNCs for their annual meetings within Canada.
Table 1 (below) shows the organizational levels in
science, as discussed here.
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Global body: |
ICSU |
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International bodies: |
IAU, URSI, COSPAR, CODATA, etc |
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Canadian-international link: |
IAU CNC, URSI CNC, CISET, etc |
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Canadian support bodies: |
NRC Partners, CASCA, NRC HIA, etc |
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Primary canadian bodies: |
NRC, CSA, Canadian scientists, etc |
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Individuals: |
you and me, members of the general public |
* Canadian Science - CISET *
Representatives from twenty different CNCs were in attendance (Astro, Radio, Space, Solar-Terr.Physics, Data, Physics, Mechanics, Math, Soil, Crystal, Illumination, Permafrost, Biochem & Biology, Biophys, Biosphere, Pharmaco, Physiol, Nutrition, Environment, Psychol), while nine others declined. This meeting served to improve communications between all CNCs and ICSU. Some of the goals (see a, b, c, d) were to square Canadian concerns with CISET help, when possible.
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a) |
CNCs should bring to Canada more international scientific meetings. This would help Canadians to be better known internationally, and help Canadian science. The CNC of IAU is working hard to have the IAU General Assembly held in Canada in 2009. The CNC of URSI hosted the URSI general assembly in Toronto in 1999. Many CNCs have vigorous programs to solicit their international bodies for permission to host divisional yet international meetings in canada. NRC has set up a loan fund to help secure conference sites with instant cash. |
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b) |
Young Canadian scientists are not joining scientific societies as often as they did/could. Often they will not even read the paper-based information, but they will join for value-added services (job prospects, newsletter, etc). Mentoring and personal contact were seen as particularly successful enticements. |
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c) |
Canadian Industry representatives complained about unequal recognition with their university colleagues on the CNCs, in regards to some NRC CorpServ documents. A CNC URSI-sponsored proposal to recognize their participation (put on the floor by your's truly) was supported by CNC CODATA, agreed by CISET and passed on to NRC for action. |
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d) |
Supporting the ICSU goal of free availability of raw data, we heard from David Moorman, Policy analyst at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada [SSHRCC], on sharing Databases and archives, and also from Glen Newton of CODATA/CISTI who entertained us on database confidentiality, proprietary period, and royalties. Penalties could ensue upon refusal to provide raw data to other researchers, if you have received SSHRC funding. |
Prior to the CISET/NRC Partners meeting, a 2-page summary on past successes was drafted by each CNC (written by myself for URSI, and by Dr. Russ Taylor for IAU). As a result, with 20 CNCs in attendence, I got a 2-cm thick volume on the achievements of CNCs in Canada (if you wish to consult that). The URSI CNC summary follows.
* Radio Science - URSI CNC *
In 2001, URSI CNC hosted an international conf. in Victoria on Electromag. Theory. In 2000, Dr. Paul Wittke from Kingston was elected Vice-President of URSI. In 1999, the CNC hosted the AGA of URSI in Toronto, which yielded a profit. In 1999, the CNC created its own NRC Trust Account, currently standing at $20k {Note E].
- Radio Astronomy in Canada is represented on the CNC by Dr. Dave Routledge (Edmonton). The CNC secured the right to host the joint IEEE-URSI meeting to be held in Canada, in June/July 2007. Then the CNC chose the bid by Carleton University to hold it in Ottawa. Finally, bids will be received soon from 3 companies including NRC Conf. Services for the right to manage this event. The past IEEE-URSI joint meetings in Canada have been well attended by radio astronomers.
- The CNC has selected a slate of Canadian candidates, one for each of the 4 URSI awards, in time for the international deadline. The CNC is actively engaged in promoting other Canadians to all Chairs and Vice Chairs of all URSI Commissions.
- The CNC has awarded 'best student papers' in the past. In 1999, I set up the URSI CNC web site and maintain it since. It can be seen at http://www.ursi.ca/
A very fine meeting, indeed!
* Notes *
(A) ICSU was formed in 1919 as the IRC [International Research Council], then reformed in 1931 as the ICSU [Internat.Council of Sci. Unions], then renamed in 1998 as the Internat. Council for Science. Its HQ is in Paris.
(B) CNC stands for Canadian National Committee, one of close to 30 in existence in Canada. Each CNC has a NRC Partner. CASCA is the NRC Partner for the CNC of the IAU. The CNC of the IAU is the elected Board of Directors of CASCA. NRC HIA is the NRC Partner for the CNC of URSI. The CNC of URSI is made up of NRC-appointed members, one appointment for each scientific division in URSI. The Canadian Space Agency is the NRC Partner for COSPAR (Comm. on Space Research) and for SCOSTEP (Sci. Comm. on Solar-Terrestrial Physics). NRC CISTI is the NRC Partner for CODATA (Comm. on Data for Sci. & Tech.).
(C) URSI was formed in 1919 [named Union Radio Scientifique Internationale] to encourage and promote the study of all aspects of electromagnetic fields and waves. It supports the Steering committee on frequency allocation for radio astronomy and space science, on which Dr. Ken Tapping is the Canadian representing radio astronomy.
(D) CISET is NRC's Committee on International Science, Engineering & Technology. Every other year, it holds a joint meeting with NRC Partners sponsoring 29 Canadian National Committees. CISET makes recommendations to NRC management.
(E) NRC CNC Trust Account is currently known as the Revenue Operating Account within the 2001 Sigma accounting system. The CNC uses it as: seed money to reserve conference centers at the earliest time and as start-up money for conference partnerships, as repayment for travel to important meetings to bring to Canada future international conferences, and as awards for best student presentations at international meetings held in Canada.
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Dr. Jacques P. Vallée
<jacques.vallee @nrc.gc.ca>
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