An appeal to all of you who know a scientist, are scientists or value the work of scientist. I met up with a group of mainly UofT scientists a few weeks back called Evidence For Democracy. The story they paint is grim for the future of science in Canada. Grants for basic science are evaporating. Increasingly the grants are tied to corporations and scientists don’t work for the public good but for corporate profit. It is a worrying trend.
A few people from Science for Peace were also there.
Evidence for Democracy (E4D) advocates for the transparent use of science and evidence in public policy and government decision-making. They seem to be the Canadian equivalent of the USA based Union for Concerned Scientists.
A national, non-partisan, and not-for-profit organization, E4D formed out of concern over recent government cuts to important science institutions, and policies that restrict the flow of scientific information to the public. Governments can be tempted to make decisions based on ideology or political convenience unless the public loudly demands that decisions be based on evidence.