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Federal Science and Technology: The Pursuit of Excellence
2.2 Council of Science and Technology Advisors — Activities in 2003
Since its inception, the CSTA has addressed a number of issues related to enhancing the strategic management of federal S&T;, exploring these issues in a series of reports delivered to the federal Cabinet and subsequently released to the public. The Council has provided advice related to: the effective use of science advice in the government’s decision-making process; the roles of the government in performing S&T;, and the fundamental principles to guide the conduct of federally performed and funded S&T; the foundations and pillars of excellence to define government S&T; characteristics and practices to maximize the contribution of the SBDAs’ external science advisory bodies; and the means to ensure the attraction and retention of high-quality government S&T; employees.
In 2003, the CSTA presented its sixth report to the federal Cabinet, Science Communications and Opportunities for Public Engagement (SCOPE). In this SCOPE report, the CSTA maintained that effective communication of S&T; information and issues is fundamental to Canada’s economic and social well-being. As a key player in the national science and innovation system, and as a democratic government responsible to its citizens, the federal government has a duty to communicate openly and effectively about its S&T; and S&T-informed; policy, why and how it does science, how it uses science, and the impacts of this science on Canadian citizens and society.
The CSTA suggested that S&T; communications in government have tended to be interpreted as unidirectional action, communicating to an audience in order to increase awareness, educate and persuade. In its SCOPE report, the Council suggested that this concept of communications be expanded to encompass the idea of communicating with citizens, engaging them in dialogue, deliberation and decision making. Referring to this as participatory communications, the CSTA noted the importance of inclusiveness and consideration of the local knowledge and expertise of various geographic, cultural and interest-based communities.
In the SCOPE report, the CSTA identified the foundations, guiding principles and best practices of effective federal S&T; communications, and proposed guidelines for the preparation of departmental S&T; communications strategies. In its conclusions, the CSTA recommended that federal science-based departments and agencies:
- embrace the concept of participatory communications, whereby audiences are engaged in dialogue, deliberation and decision making;
- adopt communications as an integral part of the management of conduct of S&T; and S&T-informed; policy, integrating communications planning early in the S&T; cycle;
- develop comprehensive S&T; communications strategies to complement and support the conduct of S&T;, respecting the principles and best practices outlined (see Guiding Principles and Best Practices box); and
- invest in S&T; communications planning, training and delivery, in order to foster excellence in S&T; communications.
Guiding Principles and Best Practices
In its report, Science Communications and Opportunities for Public Engagement, the CSTA identified guiding principles and best practices of effective federal S&T; communications. These included recommendations that the government do the following:
- Build its S&T; communications around issues that are informed by S&T;, rather than around the specifics of the S&T; itself. Position these S&T-related; issues in the context of the public agenda, and link them to broader economic, social, environmental, and other concerns.
- Practice transparency about the mechanisms and processes it employs in the management and conduct of its S&T; and S&T-informed; policy, and about the processes by which decisions are reached.
- Practice openness in its S&T; communications, defined as the willingness to put information, ideas and debate in the public realm. Empower authorized government employees to communicate freely with the public.
- Balance transparency and openness appropriately with accountability. The government has a responsibility to ensure that all S&T; communications emanating from all internal sources are appropriate and accurate. It must retain the ability to restrict the release of information in the public interest when full disclosure will jeopardize national security, violate personal privacy, break an intellectual property agreement or pose undue risk to the public.
- Build relationships with stakeholders, striving to foster mutual confidence and respect. Be inclusive, incorporating the diverse perspectives and local expertise of different sectors, cultures and geographic areas.
- Seek continual improvement through evaluation of its S&T; communications strategies.
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In 2003, at the request of the federal Cabinet, the CSTA also initiated work on a study of federal S&T; linkages, examining how the federal government can foster closer S&T; ties among departments and with industry and academia, in the pursuit and use of S&T; for mutual interest and benefit. The CSTA believes that, through linkages, the government can engage the full capacity of the national science and innovation system, and draw on the most appropriate expertise, experience and resources, wherever they reside, in order to more effectively address and resolve national issues. The Council’s report on federal S&T; linkages is expected in 2004.
All of the CSTA's published reports, as well as supporting documentation, can be found on the CSTA Web site.
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