[2] The initiative is the result of conversations between Senator Stan Kutcher and Timothy Caulfield, who were discussing ways to counter misinformation about COVID-19.
In April 2021, the Government of Canada announced $2.25 million in funding for two new projects to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, one of which was ScienceUpFirst.
Starting in March 2021, it also plans to track misinformation online and post science-based content to oppose it.
[5][6] In addition to recruiting athletes and celebrities, it's building a network of volunteers to increase the distribution of the selected information.
[6] ScienceUpFirst is organized around the Canadian Association of Sciences Centres, COVID-19 Resources Canada and the University of Alberta's Health Law Institute.