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The recent federal budget, dubbed the “science budget” for its investment in fundamental research, represents a “major step” in fixing the problems that stemmed from underfunding science for two decades, writes the University of Toronto’s Mark Lautens

But the budget also reveals the need for new research strategies, writes Lautens, a  of chemistry at U of T.

The first involves scientists and scholars themselves, he says: Not only do they have to make sure the new funds are used effectively, they need to communicate better with the public about their work and why it matters.

Federal funding agencies also need to change how they operate, Lautens writes, making sure to increase funding of the best scientists, at all career stages.

“If Canada truly wants to ‘Own the Podium’ in research, it needs to keep researcheers firing on all cylinders throughout their careers.”