An RMC legacy: Science Meets Parliament
May 13, 2024 – Defence Stories
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Maj Matt McTaggart from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) addresses attendees at Science Meets Parliament, a symposium hosted by RMC bringing together members of the Canadian scientific community with parliamentarians and other members of government at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, Ont., on May 7, 2024.
Science Meets Parliament – an event that provides Canadian researchers with the training and opportunity to communicate their complex ideas with Parliamentarians and learn about the challenges facing policymakers – was launched six years ago by two renowned chemistry professors from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC): Dr. Cécile Malardier-Jugroot and Major Matt McTaggart, in partnership with the Canadian Science Policy Centre and Canada’s Chief Science Advisor.
“RMC has been a major sponsor of the program since the beginning,” said Maj McTaggart. “As a military university, RMC immediately recognized the vital importance of a strong, robust relationship between the people who are generating knowledge in Canada, including for the Canadian Armed Forces, and those who might put it to use for the public good.”
Opening the lines of communication between those two worlds was key to facilitating the creation of trusting relationships between Senators and MPs on the one hand, and scientific delegates on the other.
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Speaker of the House of Commons, The Honourable Greg Fergus, P.C., M.P., addresses attendees at Science Meets Parliament.
Returning for its 4th Edition after great past success, Science Meets Parliament 2024 took place in person on Parliament Hill, with 50 carefully selected individuals from varied scientific, linguistic and personal backgrounds and communities spanning Canada and representing diverse institutions to build strong links with the political community.
This year’s first event started on January 15 where delegates had the opportunity to attend eight virtual sessions before spending May 6-7 meeting with federal politicians on Parliament Hill.
Unlike other ‘day on the Hill’ events, Science Meets Parliament is an explicitly non-lobbying and non-partisan effort to build relationships between Canada’s researchers and federal policymakers, reflecting RMC’s commitment to promoting scholarly excellence for public benefit.
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(L to R): Drs. Peter Thornton, Office of the Chief Science Advisor; Peter Serles, Cal Tech; Marianne Black, University of Victoria; Trushar Patel, University of Lethbridge; Cécile Malardier-Jugroot, Royal Military College of Canada; Mehrdad Hariri, President, Canadian Science Policy Centre; Chief Science Advisor, Mona Nemer; Maj Matt McTaggart, Royal Military College of Canada; Chris Caputo, York University; Homa Kheyrollah Pour, Wilfrid Laurier University; Effie Pereira, Queen’s University; and Wendi Zhou, Health Canada.
DND Photos by: Cpl Charles Audet, Canadian Forces Combat Camera
“I’m proud of the work our team has accomplished, and of the impact RMC has made through their support for the program,” Maj McTaggart said.
“With the constant growth of this event throughout the last few years, it is safe to say that Science Meets Parliament is well on its way to achieving its aim, providing a valuable complement to RMC's special focus on generating and mobilizing creative ideas to benefit Canada, all Canadians, and our unique defence and security needs at this time of growing geopolitical uncertainty,” added Dr. Jill Scott, Principal of RMC.
To learn more, visit sciencepolicy.ca or write to sciencemeetsparliament@sciencepolicy.ca.