Transforming Science and Technology (S&T) Services Workshop Website
NRCan launches website on results of Transforming Science and Technology
(S&T) Services Workshop
Natural Resources Canada
(NRCan) has launched a new Web site on the results of the two-day workshop
entitled Knowledge for Canadians: Transforming Public Science and Technology
(S&T) Services held in May 2005 in cooperation with the Treasury Board
of Canada Secretariat's Chief Information Officer Branch (TBS-CIOB).
Attended by 70 participants
from the different agencies and branches of Natural Resources Canada and a
cross section of federal science-based departments and agencies, the workshop
investigated the role science-based departments and agencies play in providing
services aimed at public knowledge, information and decision-making on science
and technology (S&T).
By providing a forum for discussion of the unique issues, opportunities and challenges associated with
transforming public S&T services, the workshop contributed to TBS-CIOB's
efforts to establish a new vision of government services to the public and
other external clients as part of the Government of Canada's service
transformation agenda. As underlined by
Dr. Yvan Hardy (Chief Scientist, NRCan) in his welcoming address, "How can the government's priorities for
federal science and technology complement or advance the government's agenda
for improving services to Canadians? ... This workshop is about improving the
provision of public information and, at the same time, enabling public
knowledge. And knowledge creation, as you know, can be very complex."
The Web site includes the speeches and presentations delivered at
the workshop, as well as links to related information. Guest speakers presented
different perspectives on government services in relation to public knowledge,
while panelists described their practical experiences in developing innovative
program models for delivering information and knowledge to external clients.
The closing section on Outcomes describes the main issues that were raised at
the workshop and also includes a summary chart that proposes a series of
corresponding areas for action.
Through this workshop, attendees made an important contribution to identifying the challenges that lie
ahead in meeting the public's growing demand for knowledge and information on S&T. But more discussion will be
needed to determine where we should best focus our efforts.
TBS-CIOB and NRCan will continue to work together to bring the messages from the workshop to the
attention of senior government officials in order to seek their direction on how the federal S&T community can contribute to the Government of Canada's
service transformation agenda.
Peter Oberle (Director, Service Transformation, BSS) speaks with workshop participants.
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