About the event

On Thursday, November 25, at 12:30 PM, the Institute for Science, Society and Policy was pleased to support the University of Ottawa and the Office of the Vice-President, Research in organizing a Partner Panel at the 2021 Canadian Science Policy Conference: Mission-Driven Research and Innovation to Address Grand Challenges: Does Canada have what it takes?
Canada faces a host of grand challenges, from climate change to the repercussions of COVID-19 to economic and social inequality. Mission-driven research and innovation offers a powerful way to address these challenges. What is mission-driven research and innovation? Does Canada have what it takes to do it? What has the country tried in the past and what should we do going forward? This session aims to answer these questions. It begins with an opening presentation providing an overview of the concept. Following this, leaders from business, government, academia and civil society will share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges before Canada, along with the country’s current and past strengths and limitations in mission-driven research and innovation.
Welcome and opening remarks

Sylvain Charbonneau, Vice-President, Research, uOttawa
Moderator

Prof. Monica Gattinger, Director, ISSP and Full Professor, School of Political Studies, uOttawa
Opening Presentation

Jeff Kinder, Senior Fellow of the ISSP, uOttawa and Executive Director, Institute on Governance
Respondents

Dr. Marcius Extavour, Vice-President, Energy & Climate, X Prize Foundation

Prof. Rees Kassen, Core Member, ISSP and Full Professor and University Research Chair in Experimental Evolution, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, uOttawa

Dr. Brenda Kenny, Member of the ISSP’s Advisory Committee and Chair, Board of Directors, Alberta Innovates
