Paramjot Gogia
[Episode 4] Science Communication Interview w/ Mehrdad Hariri (Toronto, Ontario)
Joining us for this fourth and last episode from Toronto, Ontario, Mehrdad Hariri is the Founder, CEO, and President of the Canadian Science Policy Centre, the leading not-profit HUB for science, technology and innovation policy in Canada, and a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Science, Society and Policy at the University of Ottawa. Mehrdad is also a Member of the Governing Board of The Journal of Science Policy and Governance. These are just some of the important roles he has; he is a passionate community leader and organizer in the realm of science policy here in Canada. As a visionary in Canadian Science Policy, Mehrdad has been acknowledged by the Globe and Mail for his decade of contribution to the field. In 2020, he was selected as a member of the Governor-General Leadership Conference, and numerous publications and op-eds confirm his commitment to the Canadian science policy sphere as he has been featured in many media outlets and regularly appears in the media as a commentator on science policy issues. He studied in the fields of Veterinary Medicine, Cell Biology and Functional Genomes, in Tehran, Montréal, and Toronto universities.
The Canadian Science Policy Centre is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-advocate organization. It serves as an inclusive hub for connectivity, getting together, capacity building, in support of effective science and innovation policy. Through its wide range of programs, the CSPC’s mission is to build a strong and inclusive science policy community that contributes to the well-being of Canadians. The CSPC aims to foster a climate of good scientific policy by strengthening the relationship between science and policy by carrying out initiatives such as the Annual Canadian Science Policy Conference, many types of workshops, annual science meets parliament events, virtual sessions, editorials (much like my friend Simar had written in), magazines, and so on. These are all effective scientific policy creation techniques that continue to drive the Canadian science community further.
Please be advised: this podcast segment is part of a series of conversations recorded in fulfilment for my final project for the fourth-year class: Science Communication: A Biological Approach. These are conversations that frankly, could not have been better, more genuine, and more enjoyable. These segments are meant for regular podcast audiences to watch and listen to, but my hope is that we will garner enough interest for individuals interested in the current climate and progress of science communication (including, but not limited to, scientific research, policy, and access). This may include students, legislators, advocates, research granting agencies, etc. The purpose of these conversations will be to progress the knowledge and understanding that individuals may have, but it is also important to note that the audience of this podcast is expected to have somewhat of an intermediate understanding of science communication. That is to say, although you need not be trained in science communication, it would be good to have a general understanding of the field, and the different variations of communication. Insofar as there is still hope, I am confident that these conversations will proliferate beyond our class.
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com