NRCan’s Departmental Science Advisor

As Departmental Science Advisor, Dr. Marc Saner represents NRCan in the Departmental Science Advisors Network, chaired by the Chief Science Advisor of Canada, Dr. Mona Nemer. This key cross-government network allows for collaboration on multi-departmental initiatives, promotes the use of science-based evidence to inform policy development, practice and evaluation, and acts as a platform to share best practices to support each other’s respective mandates. Dr. Saner’s chief responsibility is to provide arms-length advice to senior NRCan officials and decision makers on science and science policy issues. He is on a part-time assignment and is supported by the Office of the Chief Scientist.

Dr. Saner joined NRCan as the Departmental Science Advisor on May 24, 2022 from the University of Ottawa, where he is a full professor and former Chair of the Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics.

He has 30 years of experience working at the interface of science and policy. In 2010, Dr. Saner was recruited into the University of Ottawa to build the Institute for Science, Society and Policy as the Inaugural Director over a period of five years. He formerly held leading positions at Carleton University's Regulatory Governance Initiative, the Council of Canadian Academies, and the Institute on Governance. As a consultant, he worked for many different agencies in the Government of Canada, including NRCan. Early in his career, he worked for several years as a scientist for the Government of Canada.

Dr. Saner’s PhD is in Ecology (University of Basel, Switzerland). He later obtained an MA in Philosophy (Carleton University), and he also holds a minor in Paleontology from his undergraduate studies. He is fluent in English, French and German.

Education

• M.Sc (equiv), Biology, University of Basel, Switzerland (1986)
• PhD, Ecology, University of Basel, Switzerland (1991)
• M.A., Philosophy (Ethics), Carleton University (1999)

Career

• Appointed as the Departmental Science Advisor (2022). Reports directly to the Deputy Minister and provides independent scientific advice to NRCan’s senior management.
• Professor and Chair (2018-2024), Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa.
• Inaugural Director, Institute for Science, Society and Policy (ISSP; 2010-2015), University of Ottawa.
• Executive Director and Director of Research (2008-2010), Regulatory Governance Initiative (RGI), School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University. 
• Executive Vice-President and Director of Assessments, Council of Canadian Academies (CCA, 2006-2007), Ottawa.
• Director, Institute On Governance (IOG, 2003-2006), Ottawa.
• Managing Director, Ethics and Policy Issues Centre (EPIC, 1999-2002), Carleton University.