Daniel Munro
@dkmunro.bsky.social
Director, Research & Innovation, Actua.
Co-Director, Shift Insights.
Senior Fellow, Munk School.
Recovering political philosopher.
MIT PhD. Innovation. Science policy. Ethics. Skills. Space. JAWS. Running. Chronic napping. 🇨🇦
www.shiftinsights.ca
Co-Director, Shift Insights.
Senior Fellow, Munk School.
Recovering political philosopher.
MIT PhD. Innovation. Science policy. Ethics. Skills. Space. JAWS. Running. Chronic napping. 🇨🇦
www.shiftinsights.ca
Pinned
What principles should guide decisions about what we do in space?
In my latest, I show how a responsible innovation framework can steer ethical and sustainable spacefaring, and illustrate with application to the Artemis missions, resources, & innovation in LEO.
www.cigionline.org/publications...
In my latest, I show how a responsible innovation framework can steer ethical and sustainable spacefaring, and illustrate with application to the Artemis missions, resources, & innovation in LEO.
www.cigionline.org/publications...
At the dentist.
Pray for Dan.
Pray for Dan.
February 10, 2026 at 7:57 PM
At the dentist.
Pray for Dan.
Pray for Dan.
Bought my eldest kid her first instrument - a ukulele - from them when they were still on Rideau. She now studies music performance in university.
February 10, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Bought my eldest kid her first instrument - a ukulele - from them when they were still on Rideau. She now studies music performance in university.
Reposted by Daniel Munro
The ol’ crayola oblongata.
Or, as John Stuart Mill (should have) said, better to be a Homer satisfied than Socrates dissatisfied.
Or, as John Stuart Mill (should have) said, better to be a Homer satisfied than Socrates dissatisfied.
One of the wisest things Homer ever did was put the crayon back after hearing the unmuffled noise of the world
February 9, 2026 at 10:00 PM
The ol’ crayola oblongata.
Or, as John Stuart Mill (should have) said, better to be a Homer satisfied than Socrates dissatisfied.
Or, as John Stuart Mill (should have) said, better to be a Homer satisfied than Socrates dissatisfied.
As Musk shifts from Mars to Moon colonization, it’s a good time to reflect on principles of space ownership and use.
Can we design a space use regime that is more than a finders-keepers race to control the commons?
My thoughts from 2022.
www.cigionline.org/articles/who...
Can we design a space use regime that is more than a finders-keepers race to control the commons?
My thoughts from 2022.
www.cigionline.org/articles/who...
Who Owns Outer Space, and Everything in It?
On what grounds, if any, can a country or organization claim ownership to a spot or a resource in space?
www.cigionline.org
February 10, 2026 at 3:02 PM
As Musk shifts from Mars to Moon colonization, it’s a good time to reflect on principles of space ownership and use.
Can we design a space use regime that is more than a finders-keepers race to control the commons?
My thoughts from 2022.
www.cigionline.org/articles/who...
Can we design a space use regime that is more than a finders-keepers race to control the commons?
My thoughts from 2022.
www.cigionline.org/articles/who...
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Working on a story for Science about cuts to Canada's government researchers and labs. If you are affected by this please reach out (either on here or via my website). Anonymity is an option. 🧪
February 10, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Working on a story for Science about cuts to Canada's government researchers and labs. If you are affected by this please reach out (either on here or via my website). Anonymity is an option. 🧪
“In a financialized economy, businesses become mere sources of cash, assets to be manipulated and then operated for maximum investor returns. Workers become just another cost, like lumber. Customers are just revenue streams to be tapped.”
This is a good essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
This is a good essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
Opinion | The Finance Industry Is a Grift. Let’s Start Treating It That Way.
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:34 PM
“In a financialized economy, businesses become mere sources of cash, assets to be manipulated and then operated for maximum investor returns. Workers become just another cost, like lumber. Customers are just revenue streams to be tapped.”
This is a good essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
This is a good essay.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
Nearly all Canadians search the web for health information.
64% encounter false or misleading content.
Roughly half turn to AI for health information.
Only 27% trust AI to give accurate health information.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
64% encounter false or misleading content.
Roughly half turn to AI for health information.
Only 27% trust AI to give accurate health information.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
About half of Canadians are turning to AI for health information, survey says
People who use technology are five times more likely to report harms to their health compared to those who don’t
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Nearly all Canadians search the web for health information.
64% encounter false or misleading content.
Roughly half turn to AI for health information.
Only 27% trust AI to give accurate health information.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
64% encounter false or misleading content.
Roughly half turn to AI for health information.
Only 27% trust AI to give accurate health information.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
The ol’ crayola oblongata.
Or, as John Stuart Mill (should have) said, better to be a Homer satisfied than Socrates dissatisfied.
Or, as John Stuart Mill (should have) said, better to be a Homer satisfied than Socrates dissatisfied.
One of the wisest things Homer ever did was put the crayon back after hearing the unmuffled noise of the world
February 9, 2026 at 10:00 PM
The ol’ crayola oblongata.
Or, as John Stuart Mill (should have) said, better to be a Homer satisfied than Socrates dissatisfied.
Or, as John Stuart Mill (should have) said, better to be a Homer satisfied than Socrates dissatisfied.
End of the first. Oof.
February 9, 2026 at 8:49 PM
End of the first. Oof.
In the time it took me to walk from the kitchen to the TV, Canada scored 2 goals.
3-0
3-0
February 9, 2026 at 8:37 PM
In the time it took me to walk from the kitchen to the TV, Canada scored 2 goals.
3-0
3-0
Self-checkout supervisor is the most fascinating job in the grocery store.
February 8, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Self-checkout supervisor is the most fascinating job in the grocery store.
Gotcha. I’m still very much on board with the challenge.
February 8, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Gotcha. I’m still very much on board with the challenge.
My local councillor frequently travels by bus - and shares her misery with constituents. And yet, it doesn’t seem to translate into a sense of political urgency to fix the problem. Which more or less tracks with my sense of city of Ottawa culture: Acknowledge, commiserate, duck, disappear.
February 8, 2026 at 5:42 PM
My local councillor frequently travels by bus - and shares her misery with constituents. And yet, it doesn’t seem to translate into a sense of political urgency to fix the problem. Which more or less tracks with my sense of city of Ottawa culture: Acknowledge, commiserate, duck, disappear.
Reposted by Daniel Munro
You know those publicity stunts where a politician pretends to be homeless, or tries to get by on welfare, for a week? I want to see something like that, but where the challenge is "commute anywhere during rush hour in Ottawa".
February 8, 2026 at 4:38 PM
You know those publicity stunts where a politician pretends to be homeless, or tries to get by on welfare, for a week? I want to see something like that, but where the challenge is "commute anywhere during rush hour in Ottawa".
The 16 year old beat me to the treadmill. This means I lost?
February 8, 2026 at 2:32 PM
The 16 year old beat me to the treadmill. This means I lost?
Reposted by Daniel Munro
It's long past time to stop indulging people who think you can meaningfully defend science without also defending democracy and academic freedom and opposing authoritarianism. It's the same fight, otherwise all you're defending is your own status.
February 8, 2026 at 2:26 PM
It's long past time to stop indulging people who think you can meaningfully defend science without also defending democracy and academic freedom and opposing authoritarianism. It's the same fight, otherwise all you're defending is your own status.
Between unusable transit and completely sold out parking garages, could be dicey when more public servants return to downtown.
But I’m not worried. If recent Ottawa history is any guide, everyone should be able to park in the middle of Wellington and not have Ottawa police bother them for 3 weeks.
But I’m not worried. If recent Ottawa history is any guide, everyone should be able to park in the middle of Wellington and not have Ottawa police bother them for 3 weeks.
February 8, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Between unusable transit and completely sold out parking garages, could be dicey when more public servants return to downtown.
But I’m not worried. If recent Ottawa history is any guide, everyone should be able to park in the middle of Wellington and not have Ottawa police bother them for 3 weeks.
But I’m not worried. If recent Ottawa history is any guide, everyone should be able to park in the middle of Wellington and not have Ottawa police bother them for 3 weeks.
Has “Board of Trade” met “Ottawa public transit”?
February 8, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Has “Board of Trade” met “Ottawa public transit”?
Same. I don’t have the tolerance I did 10-15 years ago.
February 8, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Same. I don’t have the tolerance I did 10-15 years ago.
We’re still staring each other down.
February 8, 2026 at 1:50 PM
We’re still staring each other down.
I’m in a game of chicken with the 16 year old who also needs the treadmill but who, like me, also wants to loaf on the couch a bit longer.
February 8, 2026 at 1:42 PM
I’m in a game of chicken with the 16 year old who also needs the treadmill but who, like me, also wants to loaf on the couch a bit longer.
Swiss winning gold in alpine is like me winning gold in waiting for late Ottawa buses.
Locational training advantage.
Locational training advantage.
February 8, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Swiss winning gold in alpine is like me winning gold in waiting for late Ottawa buses.
Locational training advantage.
Locational training advantage.
“Nobody knows what America is anymore — not Americans, not their enemies, not their friends.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
Opinion | The Globalization of Canadian Rage
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:32 PM
“Nobody knows what America is anymore — not Americans, not their enemies, not their friends.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...