Queen’s chemistry professor Philip Jessop has been named to an expert panel tasked with conducting an assessment of the current state of science and technology and industrial research and development in Canada. The panel was assembled by the Council of the Canadian Academies (CCA) at the request of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

“Scientific and technological research are crucial to Canada’s economy, environment and social well-being,” says Dr. Jessop. “The federal government wants and deserves to understand how the research effort is faring in Canada. I’m delighted and honoured to help.”

The panel include experts from different fields of academic research, research and development, innovation, and research administration – in order to ensure a well-rounded, authoritative and credible report is produced. The panel will examine the available evidence and deliver its final report by late 2017.

This is the fourth such expert panel report commissioned by the CCA – having previously produced reports on the state of science and technology in Canada in 2006 and 2010, as well as a report on the state of industrial research and development in Canada in 2013. These reports provide valuable data and analysis documenting Canada's competitive strengths and weaknesses. New data will help identify trends that have emerged in the Canadian science and technology and industrial research and development environments in the past five years.

“As one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, we welcome this important review and congratulate Dr. Jessop and his distinguished co-panelists on their appointments,” says Dr. Steven Liss, Queen’s Vice-Principal (Research). “This review will provide valuable feedback from the post-secondary sector and beyond to ensure that Canada remains at the forefront of research and innovation. We’re proud to support the CCA’s review and offer Dr. Jessop’s extensive expertise.”

Dr. Jessop brings with him nearly 25 years of experience in the development of carbon dioxide fixation, green solvents, biomass fuel development and related green-energy research. He is currently a professor of inorganic chemistry at Queen’s University, the director of the Jessop Group research lab, the technical director of GreenCentre Canada. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Tier I Canada Research Chair.

For more information on the Council of Canadian Academies panel review, please visit the website.