MONTREAL, Canada: INGSA has a growing presence in North America and was invited to convene its first North American workshop on the principles and practices of science advice towards achieving shared global goals as encapsulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Held on 25^th May in Montreal, the workshop was specifically timed to coincide with science-related events during Canada’s hosting of the G7 summit.

Working in collaboration with Professor Rémi Quirion, Chief Scientist of Québec and member of the INGSA executive committee, the workshop provided the ideal venue to explore topics surrounding the concept of ‘diversity’ in science advice, including: the multiple levels of governance in federal systems; linguistic and cultural diversity and indigenous knowledge systems; the input from academies and other established organisations; the impact of diverse industrial sectors, among others. 

Distinguished panelists included: Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor of Canada; Elias Micha, Chief Science Advisor of Mexico; Gordon McBean, President of ICSU; Molly Shoichet, Chief Scientist of Ontario; Marc Saner of the Institute for Science, Society and Policy at the University of Ottawa; and Naser Faruqui, Director of S&T at IDRC; Dr Jeff Reading, Chair in Indigenous Health at Simon Fraser University; Aisha Jones, Director of Policy at the Jamaican National Science and Technology Commission; Valerie Patreau, Municipal counsellor for the City of Montreal; Abderrahmane Rida, Head of the Francophone Universities organisation; and Kristiann Allen for INGSA.

Discussion also included the potential benefits of an INGSA-North America Chapter.