Ocean assets are estimated to provide up to US$24 trillion globally and ocean services are valued between US$1.5 trillion and US$6 trillion a year. However, the current rate of ocean resource exploitation risks a potential impact of US$8.4 trillion across ocean sectors over a 15-year period (Haugan et al., 2024). Excessive economic activity and systemic […]
Public Policy & Decision Making
Dam! I Feel Like a River: A Comparative Study of Social License for Dam Removal and River Restoration in Atlantic Canada
Many of Canada’s dams and other river barriers were constructed during the high-modernist period (mid-20th century) when controlling nature was a priority and symbol of progress. Today, these barriers are reaching the end of their functional lifespans, providing opportunities to rethink our relationships with obstructed river systems. When considering how best to modify existing dam […]
Beyond Tokenistic Engagement: Reimagining Coastal Community Participation in Marine Spatial Planning
At a time of growing human demand for the use of marine space and its resources (Ehler, 2021; Koehler et al., 2017), Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has been proposed as a novel process that could foster sustainable marine governance (Pyć, 2019). By 2023, around 126 countries had adopted MSP in some form (IOC-UNESCO, 2024), including […]
“Connecting Communities to Ocean Science”: The ACCESS-BoFEP Conference, 19-22 May 2026
Researchers, students, practitioners, educators, and community members alike gathered at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, for the 2026 joint Atlantic Canada Coastal and Estuarine Science Society (ACCESS) and the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership (BoFEP) biennial conference. Held under the theme “Connecting Communities to Ocean Science,” the conference brought together approximately 90 participants for four days of presentations, discussions, posters, […]
From Water Pollution Studies to Legislation and Regulatory Action: Celebrating 50 Years of Contributions of the Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop
What can a half century of research achieve? This question was top of mind at the fiftieth Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop (previously the Aquatic Toxicity Workshop), sponsored by the University of Waterloo, on 6-9 October 2024 in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. This series of meetings began in the 1970s directly after the formation of the federal government department, […]
Dynamics of Information Flow at the Science-Policy Interface for Endangered Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon
Once an aquatic species is added to Canada’s list of endangered flora and fauna under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), does the best available information make its way into decision-making to promote the recovery of the species? Resource management, including the management of endangered species, can be challenging due to the involvement of […]
The Role of Media in Promoting Awareness and Use of Research-Based Information
When scientists communicate their findings to broader audiences, the medium they use can have a substantial impact on how the information is absorbed and used. In recent years, attention has shifted in science communication from a focus on traditional media sources, such as news broadcasts and journal articles, to social media. The ubiquity of social […]
Measuring the Use and Influence of Research-Based Information
Effective use of research-based information is critical for informed decision- and policy-making. However, assessing the use and influence of such information can pose significant challenges due to the complex interactions between scientific knowledge, policy processes, and stakeholder interests (Bogenschneider et al., 2021; Englund et al., 2022; Soomai et al., 2016). In this blog post, we […]
Improving Use of Research-Based Information in Policy
The concept of evidence-based policymaking has gained significant traction in recent years. As societies grapple with increasingly complex challenges, from global pandemics to climate change, calls for policies that are grounded in scientifically-sound evidence have grown louder. However, the practical realization of this ideal remains somewhat elusive (Wardman, 2022). As a result, significant research efforts […]
What is Evidence? Perspectives on Its Role in Policy Making
In this post, we investigate the various forms and difficulties associated with interpreting evidence and highlight its multifaceted nature. We consider the issue of different interpretations of evidence and emphasize the vital role of quality assurance processes such as peer review, which aim to assure the reliability and credibility of research. To effectively support policymakers’ […]