On September 26, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named the Lebanese cardiology researcher Mona Nemer Canada’s new chief science researcher.
The official announcement was made in the foyer of the House of Commons.
Nemer has been a Vice President at the University of Ottawa for 11 years, and she ended her term this year on June 30.
According to CBC, the new chief science adviser will be responsible for a CA$2-million budget. Her responsibilities include helping the government by:
- Providing advice to the government for decision-making
- Keeping the science of the government accessible to the public
- Protecting the freedom of the federal scientists
Canada had a national researcher for four years which was eliminated by the Conservative government between 2006 and 2015.
When Trudeau was elected as Prime Minister in 2015, he promised to improve the state of the scientists in Canada.
According to sources, the search for a new chief science adviser started in December 2016. After receiving numerous applications in February 2017, the selection process began.
What makes Nemer perfect for this prestigious role is that she has a long experience in her field. Also, she has great political skills, according to Jim Woodgett, the director of research at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto.
