Members of Ontario universities are invited to participate in a workshop on research security over two half days, on October 12 (1:00-4:30 PM) and October 13 (2:00 – 4:30 PM). An agenda is attached.

The federal government has placed an increasing emphasis on research security at post-secondary institutions. The government has directed NSERC to apply security risk assessments to Alliance grant applications. There is also an intention by the government that security risk assessments will apply to a wider range of portfolios.

Institutions view as critical that researchers and their teams take reasonable and risk-based measures to safeguard investments in their research. However, there are challenges and concerns that need consideration to allay the risks of serious unintended consequences.

A workshop has been organized to better inform individuals on potential national security threats, ways to safeguard research, and civil liberty rights. Speakers at this workshop will include national security experts, CSIS representatives, as well as academics with expertise in civil liberties and antiracism.  These presentations will include such areas as internet censorship and surveillance, exercise of power in cyberspace and international law, foreign policy and national security issues.

Sessions will not be recorded.

If you would like to have a question asked of the speakers at the workshop but wish to remain anonymous, please send your question, in confidence, in advance to kwong@uwaterloo.ca. You may also include a question as part of the Ticketfi registration process (see below).

Please register your participation in this workshop (see attachment).