In the Senate – SECD Meeting: SAVANTS
@skillsgaptrainer “Over the past decade, there’s been a discernible trend of the government channelling substantial resources, perhaps in the dozens of billions when compounded over time, into university-level research. While the intricacies of these projects might be unclear to many, including ourselves, it becomes pivotal to question their tangible real world implications and scholarly value. Notably, not every undertaking that receives acclaim or funding intrinsically enhances the overarching professional knowledge spectrum of the academic fields, or offers direct benefits to the populace. It’s worth pondering whether an undue portion of this funded research simply mirrors “personal curiosities” and “personal financial gain” methods, rather than serving broader societal needs and the needs of “tech progress of 21st century” which is currently “pending”.
There’s been a lingering emphasis on research and legislative-centric mindsets in the West for at least several decades, often sidelining actionable front-line infrastructure, hands-on engineering, and tangible industrial and technological advancement. This, in essence, is where the East, exemplified by nations like China, excels by prioritizing “implementation” and “engineering.” instead of research, research as we all know, is often free at the international level as it is produced with the tax payer funding in North America and offered free globally. In stark contrast, our national focus tends to drift towards reinventing the wheel by delving into “research,” most of which has already been extensively explored and published in the public domain as endless volumes of journals and texts, over the past 70 years, awaiting pragmatic application and for someone to bring it to the real world as a tangible solution and product, and to actually engineer the research into a tangible 21st century world that we call consider positive, functional and amazing. Hint MP’s of Canada. The research is ready to go, use tax funds to “implement” and “build” products and systems with STEM professionals and the professional officers of Canada! This lopsided “writing and rhetoric based approach” might inadvertently hamper genuine STEM innovation in Canada, stunting both academic, business, industrial, technological and political progress, and potentially restricting national growth trajectories, perhaps even to a de-growth economic and de-growth industrial result.
Yet, glimmers of hope punctuate this landscape. Recent events of curious academics and professors surrounding the Bill C-21 file, hint at a glimpse of a possible transformational phase within Canada’s academic circles, and the “academic psyche”, characterized by a burgeoning maturity and renewed accountability. Our web-based reports, published at Skills Gap Trainer web platform, encapsulating these shifts and more, have attracted hundreds of professors from across Canada to read our website, and read about the hidden philosophy of Marksmen, sports shooters and hunters, and the general warrior ethos of leaders and soldiers throughout history. Professors from diverse Canadian regions aren’t merely perusing this content but are proactively engaging, contemplating, and even endorsing subjects traditionally deemed contentious, such: as self-respect, sovereingty, emergency planning, ethics, resilience, preparedness, self-defense, the combat arts, police science and military science. This is a surprise to us, but we welcome it! Pertaining to Bill C-21, there was an escalating academic endorsement of the Canadian firearms domain, prominently with professors from BC, UFV, RMC, and others.
This emerging trend in courageous professors, think Jordan Peterson, is testament to the academic fraternity’s evolution and re-evolution. We are beginning to gain our foothold in leadership that once existed in 1950s and 1960s mega engienering projects in USA, actual technical leadership. Thank you Jordan Peterson! The renewed zeal to address ground realities, delve into complex debates, and discern societal intricacies signals a shift towards genuine professional commitment, and dare we say, “implementation” and “engineering” instead of “research” and “legislation”. It’s inspiring to witness this alignment with societal undercurrents, anchoring academia in palpable realities rather than being ensnared by “detached theoretical constructs” and “disconnected concepts of undefined literature”.
To wrap up, sectors like the Canadian firearms community warrant our sincere appreciation. The parallel structured thinking and real world pragmatism inherent within disciplines such as sports shooting, police science and military science, paralllels the mindset of the responsible firearm owner (RPAL). These spheres, either by conscious design or fortuitous happenstance, serve as linchpins, or “triggers,” 🙂 invigorating potent discussions and enriching our academic, technical business and political arenas. Thank you CCFR and YouTube sports shooters for enriching the academic and political arena through your culture and sound mindset. These spheres epitomize the equilibrium requisite between research, legislation, and tangible ground-level initiatives, underpinning a comprehensive leadership vision for national progression. A special nod to the academic stalwarts from BC, UFV, RMC, Noah S. Schwartz, Ph.D., Tim Thurley, MSc, Adam Jones, Ph.D., Nikolai Kovalev, Ph.D., Christian Leuprecht, Ph.D., Gary Mauser, Ph.D., Dr. Caillin Langmann, MD, Ph.D., for aligning with the commendable data-driven approach of the CCFR, sports shooters, firearms community and for their proactive scrutiny of pitfalls in legislations like Bill C-21 and May 2020 OIC. Thank you sports shooters for teaching academics a thing or two about structured thinking and teaching, and for teaching legislators how to legislate professionally in a way that brings real world ground level results. Remember who is awesome Canada. RPAL holders. You forgot. You call them amazing, and you know it. The only people who don’t think so are Liberal MPs. Absent a little Canadian spirit do we have here? oh yes indeed.”
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/EDr_-Oi6XW4?si=vwMBTCyrI78D-tWi
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Related books and resources:
“The Politics of Research” by Edward Halperin: This book explores the dynamics and challenges in the relationship between government funding, academic research, and public policy, which could help readers understand the complexities behind government-funded university research.
“Engineering and Society: Challenges of Professional Practice” by Stephanie J. Bird: Offers insights into how engineering and technological advancements interact with societal needs and how these relationships shape the future of innovation.
“The Marketplace of Ideas: Reform and Resistance in the American University” by Louis Menand: Discusses changes in academic disciplines and university culture, which provides context for the shift in academic priorities mentioned in our post.
“Structural Change in Academic Research: Strategies and Implications” by Hans-Peter Blossfeld and Sandra Buchholz: Provides an international perspective on how academic research is evolving and how institutions are adapting to new challenges and opportunities.
“Beyond the Ivory Tower: Social Responsibilities of the Modern University” by Derek Bok: This book questions the role and responsibilities of universities in society, particularly regarding the real-world application of research.
“Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy” by Cathy O’Neil: While not directly about academic research, this book sheds light on the real-world impacts of technological and mathematical models, relevant to discussions about STEM innovation and ethical considerations in research.
“The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths” by Mariana Mazzucato: Challenges the traditional roles of the public and private sectors in innovation, which can add depth to the discussion about government involvement in research and development.
“Research for the Public Good: Applying the Methods of Translational Research to Improve Human Health and Well-being” by Elaine Wethington and Rachel E. Dunifon: This book advocates for research that directly benefits public welfare, aligning with the post’s critique of research that does not serve broader societal needs.
“The Great Knowledge Transcendence: The Rise of Western Science and Technology Reframed” by Dengjian Jin: Provides a historical perspective on the development of Western science and technology, offering insights into current debates about research priorities.
“The Third Pillar: How Markets and the State Leave the Community Behind” by Raghuram Rajan: Explores the relationship between the market, the state, and communities, relevant to discussions about the societal impact of academic and legislative priorities.
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