SNOLAB leader joins panel on Canada’s research infrastructure

Dr. Jodi Cooley, executive director of Sudbury’s SNOLAB, is joining an expert national panel tasked with improving Canada's research infrastructure.

Dr. Jodi Cooley, executive director of Sudbury’s SNOLAB, has been invited to join an expert national panel tasked with improving Canada’s research infrastructure.

The panel, set up by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA), includes researchers and executives from national scientific facilities to its digital platforms and collaborative networks from across Canada.

Convened at the request of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada, the CCA has formed this expert panel to support the federal government in optimizing Canada’s research infrastructure.

The panel’s goal is to answer the question, ‘How can Canada optimize its national research infrastructure, including large-scale facilities, digital platforms, and collaborative networks, to meet current and future needs?’

Shape research policies

Cooley joins a multidisciplinary panel of experts in research infrastructure economic development, science and innovation policy who are experienced in intergovernmental and interdisciplinary collaboration.

“This committee will help shape policies that will influence not only the research sector in Canada, but also the global scientific community,” Cooley said in a news release Wednesday.

“I look forward to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of Canada’s current research infrastructure portfolio, and international best practices in research infrastructure planning and development.”

The committee met for the first time March 18. Janet King, chair of Polar Knowledge Canada’s board of directors and vice-chair of the Canadian Light Source’s board of directors, serves as panel chair.

Learn more about the CCA’s national research infrastructure assessment panel here.