When takes the stage at the 鈥檚 (RSC) Annual Gala in Montr茅al next week, she does so not just as one of the prestigious organization鈥檚 many influential thinkers, but as its new president. It鈥檚 a role she officially assumes on November 15.
Dr. Baylis is widely regarded as one of the world鈥檚 leading bioethicists, known for engaging with some of the most difficult ethical questions in science and medicine. Through her service on the World Health Organization鈥檚 advisory committee on human-genome editing and her book "," she has helped shape international discussions on the responsible use of biotechnology and the ethical boundaries of innovation. Guided by a clear focus on advancing science in ways that promote the common good, her research spans reproductive ethics, genome editing, and public health.
Dr. Baylis is now bringing her expertise as a global academic to lead the RSC from 2025 to 2028. She will steer Canada鈥檚 national academy of distinguished scholars, artists, and scientists through a time of growing global complexity, when trusted voices are needed to bridge research, policy, and public understanding.
In this conversation with Dal News, Dr. Baylis reflects on how she hopes to expand the RSC鈥檚 engagement, strengthen trust in expertise, and ensure that Canada鈥檚 leading minds are 鈥渋n the room where it happens.鈥�
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You鈥檝e built a distinguished career with deep international experience and collaborations around the world. How do you see that global perspective shaping your approach as president of the Royal Society of Canada?
The RSC is engaged in a number of international programs. For example, the RSC is involved in the Science7 group (S7) and the Science20 group (S20). These are platforms used to develop science-based statements for consideration at the G7 and G20 Summits, respectively.
I hope to use my experience and connections to contribute to these and other international initiatives, and to increase opportunities for RSC members to share their expertise and talents on the world stage.
For RSC Fellows and College members to effectively contribute to evidence-informed and ethical priority setting, governance, and decision鈥恗aking, we need more of us to be in 鈥渢he room where it happens.鈥�
As trust in expertise faces new pressures, how can the Royal Society of Canada help reaffirm the importance of academic voices in Canada鈥檚 public conversation?
Trust is earned (not gifted), and the RSC will continue to do its work in ways that showcase its trustworthiness.
The RSC made significant strides in connecting with the public during critical moments of the COVID-19 pandemic 鈥� for example in engaging 10,000 Canadians in webinars 鈥� and my hope is to assist in enriching this type of outreach.听听
We need to optimize our use of social media channels in addition to our use of traditional media. We need to increase public outreach through the publication of readily accessible commentaries, and many of our Members do this already writing for blogs. Another opportunity for increased public communication is participation in podcasts.
The RSC is well positioned to muster evidence-based advice to guide government and the public. How do you think Canada can better leverage academic expertise to inform decision-making on complex issues from AI to climate change?
Providing policymakers with the best available evidence for the decisions they are called upon to make is a challenge for the RSC in a complex system of science advice in Canada. I am confident that we are up to the challenge.
During the recent pandemic, the RSC excelled at leveraging academic expertise to assist decision-makers in a context of considerable uncertainty. The multi-year Task Force on COVID-19 mobilized over 700 Canadians, the majority of whom are not affiliated with the RSC, in order to produce 40 peer-reviewed reports on aspects of the pandemic and over 100 op-eds in The Globe and Mail.
Further, if I take the specific examples mentioned 鈥� AI and climate change 鈥� the RSC recognizes that emerging technologies such as AI require sustained attention and at this year鈥檚 Celebration of Excellence and Engagement in Montreal there is a one-day conference devoted to this topic.
The RSC has also been looking at the impact of climate change and was a co-signatory to the S7 statement on the impacts of climate change on public health. I could list other initiatives, but the point is we live in challenging times and the RSC is ready to brings its intellectual capital to bear on the challenges.
Many early-career researchers see the RSC as a destination for later in their professional journeys. How can the RSC engage and inspire the next generation of scholars, artists, and scientists?
Just over 10 years ago, in 2014, the RSC created the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. This is the body that celebrates the accomplishments of mid-career professionals.
For many, this emerging generation of intellectual leaders has pride of place within the Royal Society as they advance new ways of thinking and doing, and challenge all of us to ask and answer better questions.
Finally, as you look ahead, what lasting impact or new direction do you hope to set for the Royal Society of Canada during your presidency?
I have high hopes and high expectations for myself and for my colleagues. I believe we are all committed to knowledge production for the common good and that, in these times of fracture and dissonance, our talents are perhaps needed now more than ever.
There are two facets to the work of the RSC 鈥� Excellence and Engagement.
The Society is an honorary institution that aims to recognize Canadian talent. We do a great job celebrating 鈥楨xcellence鈥�. The Society is also a working body. While remaining vigilant with respect to the ways in which the RSC recognizes excellence, it is in the 鈥渆ngagement鈥� portion of our mandate where I hope we will collectively take meaningful strides.
By leveraging excellence in order to enhance engagement, with civil society and with policymakers, RSC Members can deliver on the promise to use the knowledge we produce to make this a better world for us all.