SUPPLIED
Jeremy McNeil, Professor, Department of Biology, Western University President, Royal Society of Canada
As a panel member of the very first national funding competition launched by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), seeing the diversity and originality of the projects submitted emphasized just how important this new program was for the Canadian research community.
Thus, it is not surprising that since its inception, the CFI has allowed institutions to build on their strengths and provide researchers with cutting-edge facilities to address issues of regional, national and international importance in ways that were previously not possible. However, in order to move this community forward, new facilities providing access to the most recent technologies are not enough. We also need funding for refurbishing existing facilities, some of which may even be seen as rather “un-innovative,” such as greenhouse complexes.
The need for evidence-based data – especially in consideration of both medical and social issues during the COVID-19 pandemic – has once again helped to illustrate the importance of broad interdisciplinary collaborations.
The need for evidence-based data – especially in consideration of both medical and social issues during the COVID-19 pandemic – has once again helped to illustrate the importance of broad interdisciplinary collaborations.
As we move from the pandemic to the endemic phase, we must build on the lessons learned to truly break down silos and develop the transdisciplinary teams, including members with Indigenous knowledge, that are essential to effectively addressing the diverse challenges associated with climate change in a way that benefits society as a whole.
The stark inequities existing within our communities were also laid bare during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard when developing the policies required to address today’s and tomorrow’s pressing issues, including health threats and climate change.
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