Tapping in to great Canadian minds

Who should be supporting scientific research? How are we going to build a knowledge-based economy? What must Ontario do to innovate in the future? How important is scientific collaboration? Why is funding infrastructure so important? What lessons have we learned from the way we've done research? How are we going to retain our best and brightest?

These are all important questions all of us should be asking ourselves. And just a sample of the questions we posed to some of the leading names in science, industry and academia. Notable individuals that include Alan Bernstein, David Crane, John Evans, Mike Lazaridis, Mark Poznansky, Rich Murphy, Nils Peterson, Gord Nixon, Bonnie Schmidt and Lou Siminovitch.

Want to hear what these prominent people have to say? Simply choose the Q & A you want to read using the drop down menu above. Whether you agree with their point of view, or not, one thing is certain. You are sure to be stimulated and challenged.

Q In general, how do you see Canada doing in the translation of research into application?

A This is an area where we typically do the Canadian thing: beat ourselves up about our supposed failings. I don't think that we're doing any better or worse than other countries because, in general, translating research findings into clinical practice or policy or into products is a tough, frustrating, often contradictory process no matter where you are on the planet.

Read full Q A session

There has not been a Nobel Prize won in the life sciences area in Ontario since Banting, Best and McLeod won for insulin in 1923. Since that time, 30 Nobel Prizes have been won by scientists from Boston, and a total of 85 Nobel Prizes have been won by American scientists.