This week (May 6-15) is 鈥淪cience Odyssey,鈥� a national celebration of Canada's achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with more than 300 events planned across the country.
As part of the week鈥檚 activities, Dalhousie Vice-President Research Martha Crago was in Ottawa yesterday moderating an event at the Museum of Nature featuring two federal ministers, government scientists and high school and university students.
Students from Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, Elmwood High School and viewers tuning in live on YouTube watched as the Honourable Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced his department will begin hiring 135 new science-related personnel across the country in the coming weeks.
鈥淭his is DFO鈥檚 largest science recruitment in recent history,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be hiring scientists, biologists, engineers and others. These folks will be working in our labs, in the field, on the water aboard our vessels.鈥�
The hiring is part of a nearly over the next five years.
The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, also spoke at the event, encouraging the young people in attendance and those tuning in online to consider careers in the sciences.
鈥淚 want to encourage you to be curious, to ask questions, to consider a future [in science,]聽whether it鈥檚 in the aquatic sciences or in astronomy, computer science, ecology, economics, engineering, medicine, in oceans,鈥� she said. 鈥淩egardless of whatever field you choose, there鈥檚 one thing you should know: there is no better time to pursue a career in science, and I hope you鈥檙e all as excited about the future as I am.鈥�
Dr. Crago facilitated an engaging question-and-answer session with the ministers, as well as three federal scientists: Lisa Loseto and Denis Gilbert from Fisheries and Oceans and Andr茅 Martel of the Canadian Museum of Nature. They discussed the challenges in translating research to policy, the skill sets needed by today鈥檚 scientists, and how Indigenous knowledge can inform scientific research.
鈥淚t was a great discussion,鈥� said Dr. Crago. 鈥淚 was really pleased to see such great engagement from both the panelists and the students who were there, and the news that was announced couldn鈥檛 be better for both current and future ocean scientists.鈥�
Watch the full discussion on YouTube:
Science at sea: Dal VP Martha Crago helps launch gov't science expansion
Ryan McNutt - May 12, 2016
Dr. Crago (far left) moderates Wednesday's panel discussion. (Fisheries and Oceans photo)