It’s been a year since the federal Liberal Party under Justin Trudeau swept to power. Although self-proclaimed as a ‘pro-science’ government, the Liberals have much to do to get fundamental science & research back on track.

Real creativity in the sciences and arts and humanities requires that academics be free to pursue basic research, or “blue-sky” questions, that don’t have immediate functional applications.

Does uncivil discourse have a place in academia? Do emotion, intemperateness and name-calling belong in an institution whose values include logic, reason, level-headedness and respect? Or, if academic freedom disallows incivility, should we punish incivility, or expand academic freedom to include it?

The Canada First Research Excellence Fund’s announcement of grant recipients earlier this month was met with celebrations by many Canadian researchers and scholars. While the projects are compelling and worthy, it’s notable that not a single one is rooted in the humanities, or includes the humanities as a dimension of its research.

On June 6, 2016, news broke that a Canadian scholar had been arrested and imprisoned in Iran. The Bulletin talked with engineering professor Ted Stathopoulos, president of CUFA, following Hoodfar’s release on Sept. 26.