On the right, Dr. Alvin Shrier, CFBS President, Presenting Dr. Peter Adams with the 2003 CFBS Science Advocacy Award

From the left Dr. Peter Anderson, CFBS Past President, Dr. Bruce Sells, CFBS Executive Director, Dr. Alison Allan, Recipient of the NRC H.L Holmes Award (presented at the CFBS 46th Meeting), Dr. Peter Adams, Dr. Alvin Shrier, CFBS President and Dr. Arthur Carty, NRC President

CFBS Political Advocacy of Science Award was presented to Dr. Peter Adams, MP, by Dr. Alvin Shrier, CFBS President at the CFBS 46th Annual Meeting, June 2003, Ottawa Congress Centre, Ottawa, ON.

A scientist and an educator Peter Adams has had an illustrious career in academe prior to his entering the Federal Parliament. He received his graduate training at McGill University. As a specialist in snow and ice research he was appointed Director of the Sub arctic Research Laboratory, Schefferville, Quebec. During the continuation of his academic career he became Founding Chair of the Geography Department, Trent University, Peterborough where he also served as Dean of Graduate Studies and Associate Vice President. In 1987 he was elected M.P.P. for the Peterborough Riding and in 1993 he was elected to the Federal House.

Peter Adams has served as Caucus Chair for Post-Secondary Education and Research since 1994. In the absence of a Minister of Education in the Federal Government, his Caucus has played a vital role in transmitting to Parliament the issues of importance to the academic and research communities. His role as chair of this caucus has occurred during a period of unprecedented growth of Canadian Government’s investment in the support of programs promoting research and development in this country. The advice that he and his colleagues have provided, each year, to Finance has reflected an intimate understanding that innovation is the gateway to Canada’s prosperity in a global economy. In advancing the critical issues his caucus has underscored the need for a strong commitment to universities in the education and training of the creative personnel required to guarantee success of the innovation strategy. His caucus’ successful argument for “indirect costs” of research, support of Granting Councils, establishment of CIHR and concerns for the debt loads of undergraduate students have resulted in effective legislation which will benefit Canada in its international competition. Peter Adams has been greatly appreciated not only for being a champion for innovation but also for being a source of wise counsel to the Life Sciences Community.