Katherine E. Gibbs, better known as Katie Gibbs, is the co-founder and executive director of the Canadian advocacy group Evidence for Democracy (E4D).[1][2][3][4][5]

Katie Gibbs
Alma materUniversity of Guelph University of Ottawa
Known forScience advocacy
Scientific career
Thesis Species Declines: Examining patterns of species distribution, abundance, variability and conservation status in relation to anthropogenic activities.  (2012)
Doctoral advisorDavid J. Currie

Education

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In 2006, Gibbs completed a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology at the University of Guelph. In 2012, Gibbs completed a PhD in conservation biology at the University of Ottawa, where she researched threats to endangered species across Canada.[2][6][7][8] She studied the habitats of 62 imperiled species of birds, reptiles, mammals and amphibians in Canada. The study concluded that use of pesticides in agricultural land had a correlation to the loss of species.[9]

Career

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Advocacy

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Prior to forming E4D, Gibbs was involved in social and political campaigning for the Green Party of Canada, where she was the co-chair of the first youth wing of the Green Party, the President of her local riding Green Party association, and worked at the central Green Party office in Ottawa during the 2011 elections.[8] During her PhD, Gibbs was one of the organizers for a Death of Evidence protest in Ottawa, in July 2012.[2][10][11][12][5] Over 2,000 scientists and supporters attended the protest, which was in the form of a mock funeral, to protest then Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government funding cuts to basic science research.[2][11][12][13][14] The protest's success prompted Gibbs to co-found E4D: a non-partisan Canadian non-profit organization which advocates for evidence-based policy-making in the government.[15]

Gibbs is E4D's Executive Director. On behalf of the organization, Gibbs has commented on various science policy issues in the media, including the hiring of Mona Nemer (Canada's Chief Science Advisor), the firing of Molly Shoichet (Ontario's first Chief Scientist) and the introduction of scientific integrity guidelines in the Canadian government.[16][17]

She was a panellist at the Canadian Science Policy Conference for a panel titled 'Science Integrity: Jump-starting Public Science' and is also the co-author of several articles in the Ottawa Citizen.[18][19]

Awards

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In 2015, Gibbs was shortlisted for the Everyday Political Citizen of the Year award.[20][21] Gibbs received a 2016 Young Alumni Awards of Excellence from her alma mater, the University of Ottawa.[22]

Politics

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On September 28, 2021, Gibbs was nominated to run for the Ontario Liberal Party in the 2022 election.[23] Running in Ottawa Centre, she came in second behind incumbent Ontario New Democratic Party Member of Provincial Parliament Joel Harden.

2022 Ontario general election: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Joel Harden 30,311 54.34 +8.26 $134,177
Liberal Katie Gibbs 12,596 22.58 −10.20 $103,394
Progressive Conservative Scott Healey 8,773 15.73 −0.31 $45,558
Green Shelby Bertrand 2,718 4.87 +1.35 $11,136
New Blue Glen Armstrong 798 1.43   $1,325
None of the Above Marc Adornato 233 0.42 −0.26 $0
Communist Stuart Ryan 153 0.27 +0.10 $0
Independent Thomas Borcsok 82 0.15   $378
People's Front Raymond Samuels 59 0.11   $285
Independent Josh Rachlis 58 0.10   $0
Total valid votes/Expense limit 55,781 99.52 +0.44 $154,648
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 266 0.48 -0.44
Turnout 56,047 50.74 -10.46
Eligible voters 109,977
New Democratic hold Swing +9.23
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-18.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21.

Bibliography

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Selected Academic Publications

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  • Gibbs, K.E. and Currie, D.J. "Protecting Endangered Species: Do the Main Legislative Tools Work?" PLoS ONE. 7(5): e35730.
  • Gibbs, K.E., Mackey, R.L. and Currie, D.J. "Human land use, agriculture, pesticides and losses of imperiled species." Diversity and Distributions. 15, 242–253.
  • Gibbs, K.E. and Magnuson-Ford, K. "Can scientists speak?" [1]

Selected Editorials

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  • Gibbs, K.E. and Westwood, A. "We need a national debate on science." Toronto Star.[2]
  • Gibbs, K.E. "Canada’s future depends on a national science strategy that offers bold vision." Power and Influence magazine.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Katie Gibbs: Canada's War on Science is Raising a New Generation of Science Advocates". The Narwhal. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dr. Katie Gibbs: Scientists call for evidence based decisions by governments". The Vancouver Observer. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  3. ^ Hunter, Chris (2013). The War on Science: Muzzled Scientists and Wilful Blindness in Stephen Harper's Canada. Greystone Books. pp. 5, 10, 143, 162.
  4. ^ "Scientist urges straight talk on research ahead of federal vote". Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  5. ^ a b "Katie Gibbs: Canada's War on Science is Raising a New Generation of Science Advocates | The Narwhal". The Narwhal. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  6. ^ "Staff". Evidence For Democracy. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  7. ^ "Canada at 150: Interview with Katie Gibbs". www.thepearsoncentre.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  8. ^ a b "An Interview with Dr. Katie Gibbs". In-Sight Publishing. 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  9. ^ Gibbs, Katherine E.; MacKey, Robin L.; Currie, David J. (2009). "Human land use, agriculture, pesticides and losses of imperiled species". Diversity and Distributions. 15 (2): 242–253. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4642.2008.00543.x.
  10. ^ Jacobsen, Scott Douglas (2017-12-15). "An Interview with Dr. Katie Gibbs". Humanist Voices. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  11. ^ a b Smith, Teresa (2012-07-09). "Scientists stage mock funeral to protest cuts to research". Canada.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  12. ^ a b "Scientists rally on Parliament Hill to mourn 'death of evidence' | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  13. ^ "When scientists become activists | University Affairs". University Affairs. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  14. ^ "Scientists march to Parliament Hill to protest 'death of evidence'". Global News. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  15. ^ "Evidence For Democracy". Evidence For Democracy. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  16. ^ "Ottawa unveils integrity rules to shield scientists from interference". Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  17. ^ "Concern over future of science in Ontario". Chemistry World. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  18. ^ "CSPC 2017 - Katie Gibbs".
  19. ^ "Ottawa Citizen".
  20. ^ "Ottawa residents shortlisted for Everyday Political Citizen of the Year". Ottawa Citizen. 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  21. ^ "2017 EPC Nominee: Katie Gibbs". Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  22. ^ "Faculty of Science | University of Ottawa". Faculty of Science. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  23. ^ "Liberals in Ottawa Centre Nominate Katie Gibbs as 2022 Ontario Liberal Party Candidate". Ontario Liberal Party. Retrieved 2022-03-10.


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