About Our Funding

Let’s Talk Science’s mission is to help youth develop the skills and attributes they need to participate and thrive in a complex world that is shaped by science, technology, and innovation (ST&I). We offer meaningful programming that engages children, youth, educators and volunteers in schools and community settings. With a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, our programming is available in English and French, in person and virtually across Canada – at no cost to participants. Committed to collaboration and continuous learning, we work with our key audiences to ensure programming is responsive and meets their needs.

Our world is facing a number of crises that span continents, sectors and generations. STEM will be critical for finding solutions and STEM education can be an equalizer for all youth. At Let’s Talk Science we believe we have an important opportunity to work together for a more equitable and sustainable world. 

As a national charity, our work and impacts are made possible thanks to the generosity of our funders. We are proud to engage with government, industry, non-profit and education partners because we believe it is critical to work across diverse sectors to shape the future. The people and organizations we work with share our commitment to youth and recognize the need for a collaborative approach to develop the next generations of innovators and citizens. We are thoughtful in our selection of funders and work to understand their social and environmental commitments to ensure alignment with our mission and values.

Committed to governance excellence, Let’s Talk Science is accredited by the Imagine Canada Standards program. We acknowledge the complexity and challenges inherent with fundraising and adhere to the Imagine Canada ethical code of conduct. We act with integrity and receive funding from individuals, governments, industry and foundations to support our work across Canada. A strong Scientific Integrity Policy ensures that Let’s Talk Science maintains control and autonomy over program content and distribution.

Scientific Integrity Policy

Let’s Talk Science operates in a rapidly changing research and scientific environment. The organization’s goals when developing programs and resources are to use the most current information that is supported by much of the scientific community and to reflect a balance of diverse scientific views. The growing acceptance of traditional knowledges as fundamental and credible sources are also to be incorporated and valued similarly to other bodies of scientific evidence (e.g., from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities).

Let’s Talk Science’s educational mission is built on the foundation of providing thorough, unbiased and current scientific information. We are passionate about the importance of evidence-based decision-making, scientific pursuits and inquiry processes. We are committed to operating with transparency and presenting content that is founded on scientific research and/or long-standing, demonstrated evidence that Indigenous science is based on. We understand that inquiry pursuits build knowledge and that our knowledge about a particular topic can evolve and change over time. Our primary goal is to develop critical thinkers who have the tools and information to form evidence-based decisions and opinions.

Purpose

To establish guidelines for the ethical selection of content to be used in Let's Talk Science programming, including as it relates to the participation of supporters and funders.

Definition

• Scientific Integrity - the condition that occurs when people adhere to accepted standards, professional values, and practices of the relevant scientific community. Adherence to these standards ensures objectivity, clarity, and reproducibility, and utility of scientific and scholarly activities and assessments and helps prevent bias, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, outside interference, censorship and inadequate procedural and information security. (Scientific Integrity Consortium, Feb 2019)

Policy

The content of programs and resources offered by Let’s Talk Science is guided by the best judgment of developers and consultation with experts in relevant fields.Donations and sponsorships from supporters will not in any way interfere with the scientific integrity of our programs and services. Technical experts with connections to our funders may be engaged, as appropriate, but final content is determined at the sole discretion of Let’s Talk Science. Similarly, any requests to modify program content based on the needs or beliefs of a school, community group, donor or funder, must not contradict the consensus of leading experts, which may include Indigenous knowledge holders, in the field. If modifications omit part of the education/material, (example: not including a discussion of birth control in a workshop about hormones), staff and volunteers will use their best judgment to determine if the omission undermines the value of presenting the content or the integrity of Let's Talk Science.

Employee Responsibilities

Employees and volunteers taking part in a Let’s Talk Science activity must disclose any potential conflicts of interest to Let’s Talk Science representatives in advance. Such potential conflicts of interest are not in themselves necessarily a barrier to working with Let’s Talk Science but must be disclosed where relevant.

Any concern that the principles outlined in this policy are in danger of being violated, either directly by a volunteer, supporter or employee acting in that funder or supporter’s interests, must be brought to the attention of a manager or, if necessary, using the steps outlined in Let’s Talk Science’s Whistleblower policy.

Practices and Procedures

• The statement of scientific integrity will be included in all partnership and funding agreements.
• If an agreement includes a focus on a specific community and offering them access to our programs based on a stakeholder’s interest, Let’s Talk Science will use language such as “offering programming”, “every effort will be made”, and “could substitute a nearby and similar community”. The supporter will be made aware that while we make every effort to promote our activities and programming, we are unable to guarantee uptake within a specific community.
• In developing content for programs and resources, the study, author / expert / Knowledge Holder or body of experts and their supporting statements will be referenced appropriately.
• When providing a speaking or writing opportunity to a funder or other guest, they will be provided with these guidelines. Introduction of a guest speaker will clearly identify their affiliation. When a speaker or writer’s affiliation could present a conflict of interest, it must be acknowledged. This would also be applicable to guests participating in keynotes, panels and debates.
• When developing programming, members of the program team will use credible sources for information. All content is reviewed by multiple team members for technical accuracy and potential bias. In cases of disputed information or contentious topics, the program team will engage with external subject matter experts to seek guidance on the most appropriate, accurate, and unbiased way to approach the topic. When developing some resources (such as action project resources and books), the team will work with external subject matter experts to validate content. After publication, each resource is periodically reviewed to ensure that content remains accurate and updated accordingly. If any users flag content in a resource as being potentially incorrect or biased, the program team will review that content and, if necessary, will update that resource.

How do Let’s Talk Science’s stakeholders influence our work?

Let’s Talk Science is grateful to all our supporters – stakeholders, partner organizations and donors - for their contributions.

While our supporters often contribute to defined projects and program areas where our educational mission matches their own, Let’s Talk Science holds to a core principle that any support received in no way influences or shapes the nature of the information, opinions and points of view presented in our programming or in the content of our resources.  Specifically, in alignment with the accepted ethics of both journalism and philanthropy, funded topics must be broadly framed and supporters – or their employees - are not to participate in or influence editorial activities, such as, commissioning particular writers, content or editing new and existing content developed by Let’s Talk Science. That said, employees of donor and stakeholder organizations are welcome – and invited - to take part in Let’s Talk Science activities in other ways.

Examples of unacceptable influence:

• Removing part of an article, activity or other piece of content, at their request or out of concern it will reflect poorly on a stakeholder.
• Choosing not to cover a specific topic, out of concern it will reflect poorly on a stakeholder.
• Publishing an article or designing an activity whose purpose is to support a policy of a particular group with an opposing position to the scientific research used to build programming for Let’s Talk Science. We may describe the science or evidence that is relevant to a policy decision but will not explicitly recommend or endorse policy choices based on that science.

Examples of acceptable situations:

• Choosing to cover a specific topic, from a neutral, scientific point of view, because a stakeholder is interested in funding the effort.
• Publishing STEM related career profiles linked to funders/donors, as part of promoting a diverse and balanced array of STEM careers. 
• Editing a funder/donor career profile to provide an objective description of the career rather than expressing a personal endorsement.
• Selecting a specific community and offering them access to our programs, based on a funder’s interest in supporting that community.
• Providing an appropriate speaking opportunity to a funder.

A broader discussion of our guiding principles of scientific integrity can be found in the Gift Acceptance Policy.

 

Date Adopted: 01/19/2021

Last Modification Date: 09/21/2023

Last Reviewed Date: 09/21/2023