Policy For Science: Science Advice
The ability of decision-makers in government to utilize the best scientific evidence to support their decisions is highly dependent on the mechanisms of science advice available to them. These mechanisms can range from informal meetings with scientists to the creation of institutes that have an explicit task to make recommendations to governments. At a policy hackathon, Dr. Kimberly Girling and I started developing a 'made-in-Canada' version of one of the more successful mechanisms of science advice, which are departmental science advisors. We wrote up a perspectives piece (Marleau and Girling 2017) and wrote up a version for consumption by policy actors (Girling and Marleau 2017). To date, three government departments (Canadian Space Agency, the National Research Council and Environment and Climate Change Canada) have appointed departmental science advisors.
I also reviewed a study examining the value of blue-ribbon panels and consensus building in altering the public's perception about the relative safety of GMOs for Evidence for Democracy (Marleau 2019). Such panels may have a limited impact on public policy as they might only have small impacts on public opinion, which is an important factor in the decision making process.
I also reviewed a study examining the value of blue-ribbon panels and consensus building in altering the public's perception about the relative safety of GMOs for Evidence for Democracy (Marleau 2019). Such panels may have a limited impact on public policy as they might only have small impacts on public opinion, which is an important factor in the decision making process.
Science For Policy: Integrated Assessment Model for Antimicrobial Resistance
The growing ineffectiveness of antimicrobials to treat common viral, bacterial and fungal infections requires new policies to address the threat it poses to animal, environmental and human health. Because of the highly complicated, multi-causal nature of antimicrobial resistance, scientific evidence across multiple domains of study needs to be assessed and integrated to determine what policies will be the most effective in dealing with the problem. During my time at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as a Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellow, I became involved in the work of the Genome Research and Development Initiative for Antimicrobial Resistance and the Public Health Agency of Canada's Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance. I am currently working with these researchers to develop an integrated assessment model for antimicrobial resistance in Canada, with our first step being the integration of farm-to-fork transmission of antimicrobial resistance for multiple pathogens and animal species (Murphy et al. in preparation).