The Western Canadian Policy Collaboration (WCPC) is a transdisciplinary project to address the policy implications of GE³LS research being carried in Canada’s two western provinces. In Alberta, the research is being carried out within a project entitled Translating Science: Genomics and Health Systems: in British Columbia the research is being carried out within a project entitled Building a GE³LS Architecture (GE³LS Arc). Both of these projects are funded, in part, by Genome Canada. Both projects:

• bridge agricultural and human genomics;
• focus on the representation of genomics in the public sphere;
• conduct research into how to engage and constructively direct public engagement, including different approaches to public and stakeholder engagements;
• initiate indigenous collaborations;
• recognize “governance” includes policy, market and other hybrids;
• research media influence on policy and public (complex); and
• research the uptake of public and expert views by policy makers and the market.

Annual Student Joint Biotechnology Workshop

The Third Annual Joint Biotechnology Workshop will be held in Victoria BC, the weekend of September 21-22 2007 at the Coast Harbour Side Hotel.

This workshop provides trainees with the opportunity to network with other trainees and present their research to an audience of interdisciplinary peers. All trainees will give a 15-20 minute presentation at the workshop. A broad range of topics will be covered; last year’s workshop included discussions on impacts of private sector representations of genomics, stem cell innovation and policy, and media portrayal of conflicts of interest in biomedical research. See: http://www.ge3lsalberta.ca/about/highlights/ bioworkshop_2006.html or http://gels.ethics.ubc.ca:8213/ge3ls-arch/western-canadian-policy-collaboration for more information. Trainees will also have the opportunity to attend the AFMnet Highly Qualified Personal ethical training session on the afternoon of September 20, aimed at teaching ethical theory. This event will be lead by Dr. Gary E. Dann, Ph.D., Th.D., a visiting research fellow at the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria.  To read more, please click here. 

To read a sample of some of the accepted abstracts that will be presented at this years conference, please click here. 

Second Annual Joint Biotechnology Workshop
On September 14-17, 2006, graduate and post-graduate students from across Canada gathered in Victoria to take part in the Second Annual Student Joint Biotechnology Workshop.  Some of the papers presented at this workshop were published in an edition of the Health Law Review.  Click here to see the edition of the Health Law Review. 

Western Canada Policy Collaboration Student Exchange

The members of the Western Canadian Policy Collaboration (WCPC) have established a student exchange award to allow students currently engaged at a member site in one province to broaden their academic experience while working within the same research area at a site in another province.  To find out more information, please click here.