Science and society: some "made-in-Canada" options for improving integration

Area of Science:

• Interdisciplinary research
• Science and technology studies
• Bioethics

Background:

• Growing recognition of the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of scientific advancements.
• Need for interdisciplinary approaches to understand and address the societal impact of science.
• Previous funding initiatives promoting the integration of social sciences and humanities with natural sciences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the history and arguments surrounding the integration of social sciences and humanities with natural sciences.
• To evaluate the successes and challenges of Genome Canada's GE(3)LS Research Program.
• To propose and compare three models for improving the future of GE(3)LS research.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of Genome Canada's GE(3)LS Research Program.
• Review of existing literature on interdisciplinary research and ELSI.
• Comparative analysis of three proposed models for program enhancement.

Main Results:

• The GE(3)LS program has shown successes but faces continuing challenges in achieving full integration.
• Evaluation results provide insights into the effectiveness of the current integrated model.
• Three distinct models for future program improvement have been identified and compared.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing the current integrated approach with evidence-based refinements is a viable option.
• A "hub and spoke" model could foster greater synergy across research projects.
• A programmatic approach with a central expertise resource offers another path for success.