The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) has appointed University of Lethbridge sociologist Dr. Susan A. McDaniel, FRSC, as Chair of its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

McDaniel, who previously served as vice Chair of the SAC, is the director of the U of L’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy and holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Global Population and Life Course. McDaniel has supported the Council for many years. As a member of the SAC she has worked to ensure expert panels and questions for assessment are multidisciplinary in nature, allowing for deeper insights and perspectives to come forward.

The role of the SAC is to advise the Council’s board with respect to assessment topic selection, terms of reference and peer review. The members of the SAC are eminent representatives of the broad science community, drawing from the academic, business and non-governmental sectors. Membership reflects balance in terms of discipline, geography, gender and official language community.

The Council of Canadian Academies is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that began operation in 2005. The Council supports independent, science-based, expert assessments that inform public policy development in Canada.

University of Lethbridge Vice-President (Research) Dr. Dan Weeks says McDaniel’s appointment as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee speaks to the continued leadership role McDaniel plays not only within her respective field, but also across disciplines.

“Dr. McDaniel’s work has been critical for policy development across the globe. Her experience leading the Prentice Institute, as well as through her own research, makes her well-suited for this leadership role,” says Weeks.

The Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy focuses on research about the changing human population and its potential impacts on social and economic issues, and subsequently communicating its findings widely. The Prentice Institute collaborates with researchers in Canada and elsewhere to address some of the most difficult challenges of the next generation and beyond.

A copy of the Council’s news release regarding Dr. McDaniel’s appointment can be found at http://www.scienceadvice.ca/en/news.aspx?id=130.