Sponsor

Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA)

Description

CSPC and OCSA are pleased to present the 2026 edition of Science Meets Parliament (SMP) to continue to strengthen the connection between the science and policy communities. This program provides an excellent opportunity for scientists to learn about the inclusion of scientific evidence in policy-making in Parliament.

This year marks the sixth Science Meets Parliament program since its inauguration in 2018. During these events, more than 150 emerging leaders of the scientific community from across Canada were brought to the Canadian Parliament for extensive meetings with Parliamentarians, and attendance at the House and Senate standing committees. Scientists learned firsthand about Parliamentary work and the role of science in policy-making, and discussed their research with Parliamentarians.

The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the connections between Canada’s scientific and political communities, enable a two-way dialogue and promote mutual understanding. This initiative aims to help early career scientists in particular to become familiar with policymaking at the political level, and for parliamentarians to explore using scientific evidence in policymaking. This initiative is not meant to be an advocacy exercise, and will not include any discussion of science funding or other forms of advocacy.

The Science Meets Parliament model is adapted from the successful Australian program held annually since 1999. Similar initiatives exist in the EU, the UK and Spain.

CSPC’s program aims to benefit the parliamentarians, the scientific community and, indirectly, the Canadian public.

Eligibility

The program will be available to five groups of researchers:

• Researchers who currently hold a Tier II Canada Research Chair position and are affiliated with a post-secondary institution in Canada (You must have been notified of your Tier II Canada Research Chair status by May 25, 2026).
• Researchers from the following communities holding a full-time independent investigator position at a post-secondary institution in Canada:
  • Indigenous researchers;
  • Black researchers;
  • Researchers affiliated with a post-secondary institution in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, or Nunavut
• Current members of the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists; and/or
• Research Chairs within the first 10 years (excluding eligible leave) of their initial faculty appointment (e.g., institutional Research Chair, Endowed Research Chair)
• Postdoctoral fellows who currently hold a CIHR / NSERC / SSHRC Tri-agency Postdoctoral Fellowship at a post-secondary institution in Canada (Postdoctoral Fellowship status must be announced by May 25, 2026).

Former Science Meets Parliament delegates (federal or provincial) are excluded from the application.

About 40 researchers from a diverse range of disciplines will be invited to participate in Science Meets Parliament 2026. In future iterations of this program, we hope to expand the application process further to include researchers from more career stages.

Prize

The program consists of several Virtual Zoom sessions, as well as two days in-person in Ottawa, which is currently tentatively scheduled for November 23 – 24, 2026.

Please note: In order to participate in the program, you must attend all scheduled events, including all virtual workshops and the in-person Day on the Hill.

Benefits to Scientists

• Learn about the legislative and political processes and the reality of being a parliamentarian
• Understand how their research can be useful to parliamentarians to maximize its impact
• Gain insights about how to effectively communicate research to parliamentarians
• Connect with other top researchers advancing science, engineering, social sciences and humanities across Canada
• Build lasting connections with Parliamentarians and their staff

How to Apply

Please submit the nomination online through the CSPC website. Please also submit a copy of the full nomination and OR-5 to research.services@uoguelph.ca.

For More Information

For more information, please see the CSPC website or contact sciencemeetsparliament@sciencepolicy.ca or kkariyap@uoguelph.ca.