Science Borealis

Science Borealis is a not-for-profit corporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act).​ ​We are an all-volunteer organization.

Goal

To be an inclusive digital science salon featuring Canadians blogging about a wide array of scientific disciplines. Science Borealis aims to be a one-stop shop for the public, media, educators, and policy makers to source Canadian science.

Values

We are built on the principles of curiosity, engagement and collaboration. The Science Borealis community is open to science bloggers located in Canada – and Canadians located abroad – who share our commitment to respect, support and encourage science communication in Canada, and engage passionately and critically with science.

Note that all blog submissions are vetted by our editorial team.

Origins

We are a group of Canadian science bloggers (see Our Team) who joined forces in 2012 via initial discussions between Maryse de la Giroday, Sarah Boon, Steph Taylor and Raymond Nakamura. In early 2013 we approached Canadian Science Publishing to gauge their interest in hosting such a site. Their positive response coincided with a community-building initiative (cancomm.org) kicked off by Mike Spear of Genome Alberta. Our groups joined forces, and added Pascal Lapointe of Agence Science-Presse, and Kim Moynahan to build Science Borealis.

This community-driven endeavour aims to grow our Canadian science communication community, while raising awareness of – and support for – Canadian science. To add your blog to the list, go to Join Us.

Note: Given limited start-up resources, the site is currently available in English only; however, we welcome French science bloggers to submit their blogs.

Les blogueurs francophones sont bien sûr les bienvenus dans Science Boréalis! Nous sommes désolés que ce site soit pour l’instant, en majeure partie en anglais: le bénévolat a atteint ici ses limites… Mais si votre blogue ne figure pas déjà dans la liste, inscrivez-vous pour montrer le dynamisme de la blogosphère canadienne francophone!

Why a Canadian Focus?

Although science blogs have been around for the last decade, most are based outside of Canada. While some of those bloggers represent the best of the best, we believe a Canadian point of view is also essential. Canada is a vast country with a broad diversity of geography, economics and cultures. Many science topics are unique to our country, such as managing the environment in a heavily resource-based economy, or dealing with fisheries issues on three coasts. Add to that Canada’s role on the international stage, and the linkages between Canadian science and policy. Canadian policy makers – and the public – want and need to understand what science is being done, what makes it so interesting, how it might be applicable to us, and where it is headed.