Science Policy and John de la Mothe: A Remembrance

Readers of RE$EARCH MONEY will be aware that much of the context and shape of discussions that mark our national debate on how science affects society is a function of the energy, intellect, passion and commitment of special individuals with creative vision. One such force was John de la Mothe, Canada Research Chair in Innovation Management at the Univ. of Ottawa, who unexpectedly passed away in early August.

John was a frequent Opinion Leader contributor to R$ and a prolific writer and editor of journals and books. He was Canada's leading scholar in the field of science and innovation policy and instrumental in generating new lines of thinking on the role that science and knowledge have in our economy, society and global relations. He straddled the academic worlds of innovation policy research in the US, Europe and Canada and bridged them by reaching out to the next generation of new thinkers to advance public policy.

John's leadership was key in creating the Program for Research on Innovation Management and Economy (PRIME) at U of O, and the Allan Bromley Lecture series on science and society. Whether in his work and/or studies with NSERC, MOSST, Investment Canada, Science Council of Canada, Concordia, MIT, Sussex Univ, Harvard or Yale, John painted a large swath on the science policy canvas.

Over the decades, John advised a line of Canadian governments and international institutions through his succinct grasp of the interface between policy and theory. His consul was much sought on issues ranging from new national science policy directions, novel approaches to industrial innovation and knowledge clusters and international S&T relations. He was on the original task force that led to the Council of Canadian Academies.

But John was more than paper and policy. A great, loyal friend always full of life, John had a view on everything, often with great panache. Those who had the privilege of knowing, laughing, working or travelling with John, and enjoying discourse, food, wine and music with him, will share with me not only our great sense of loss, but also our good fortune and joy at having been in his very special company.

We will all miss you John.

Paul Dufour