ARCHIVED - The NRC President's Research Excellence Advisory Committee (PREAC)

The role of the President's Research Excellence Advisory Committee (PREAC) is to promote research excellence at the NRC by providing advice on best practices to conduct research and scientific assessments and participating in research outreach activities to ensure the NRC is recognized for its scientific excellence. The Committee will advise the president on ways to achieve these goals.

PREAC is composed of 21 members from the research community, with representation from all NRC research centres. In addition, the membership also includes the president and the president's science advisor (PSA). The PSA is drawn from the research community members of PREAC, but not counted towards the 21 research centre representatives. Members are appointed to a 3‑year term, which is non‑renewable.

PREAC membership should be representative of the diversity of Canada and members are drawn from the most senior ranks of NRC research communities. All research centres will hold an internal selection process led by the director general, engaging their researcher community in order to identify the researchers that would best represent research excellence at the NRC. Final selection of PREAC members will be the decision of the president, in consultation with the chief science officer (CSO).

In July 2022, Doug Johnstone was selected to play the dual role of Committee Secretary and President's Science Advisor for a two‑year term.