Gatineau finalizes collaboration for first Scientific Council

Taylor Clark

Gatineau is officially the first city to acquire a Scientific Council after the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Université du Québec en Outaouais on March 20.

“This is an important milestone, placing science and evidence at the foundation and heart of our decision-making processes,” wrote Murielle Laberge, rector of the Université du Québec en Outaouais, in a press release. “This scientific council represents a new bridge between the City and our educational establishment. Today, we are taking a further step in our partnership with this new common commitment to making decisions informed by science.”

The collaboration will allow the City to make informed and transparent decisions by supporting the Service de la performance organisationnelle et de l’intelligence d’affaires et scientifique. The Scientific Council will work in an advisory role to municipal services in project planning.

“I am delighted and proud that this partnership has been formalized today. Having the support of several independent experts is great news for our City,” wrote Gatineau’s interim mayor Daniel Champagne.

The council will be comprised of Gatineau’s executive director Andrée Loyer, incoming dean of research and creation Simon Beaudry, scientific director of Institut des Sciences de la Forêt Tempérée and professor of ecohydrology Audrey Maheu, professor in the social work department and member of the InterSectoral Flood Network of Quebec Nathalie St-Amour, professor of political science and regional development Guy Chiasson, professor at Institut des Sciences de la Forêt Tempérée in the natural sciences department Sylvain Delagrange, and full professor in the social sciences department and member of the scientific committee for the Observatoire du développement de l’Outaouais Mario Gauthier.

Gatineau and the Universitè du Québec en Outaouais are also working to develop a partnership with Mitacs, a non-profit national research organization, to improve the project. Mitacs’ contribution would allow the financing of student internships as part of its municipal support program.

Photo caption: Gatineau’s interim mayor Daniel Champagne finalizes the collaboration with the Université du Québec en Outaouais for the creation of a Scientific Council.

Photo credit: Ville de Gatineau