The Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) is a not-for-profit organization that helps to coordinate scientific research among specialists on the Canadian fauna. The BSC network of scientists discovers, synthesizes, and freely shares knowledge about Canada’s biological diversity. The BSC has been very successful over the years, and is productive and well recognized nationally and internationally in the scientific community.

The BSC is managed by a board of directors. Membership is open to those who can actively participate in a BSC project or who can contribute to the BSC objectives in a meaningful way and whose application for admission as a member has received the approval of the Board of the corporation. BSC projects and activities are carried out by the membership in collaboration with the greater scientific community, federal and provincial government departments and museums, academic institutions, and concerned citizens.

The Biological Survey was started in 1977 as a Pilot Study (through an unsolicited proposal to the Department of Supply and Services) by the Entomological Society of Canada. After a series of contracts - including one primarily for production of a book about the insects of the arctic - the Survey was established in 1980 at the Canadian Museum of Nature (at that time called the National Museum of Natural Sciences) under a continuing partnership with the ESC. In 2009 the BSC became a not-for-profit corporation in anticipation of reduced financial support from the Canadian Museum of Nature.

The BSC’s ties with the ESC are very important as the BSC’s current and future work will have a strong entomological component. In addition, the President of the Society (or delegate) is a member of the Biological Survey of Canada. The ESC acts as sales agent for those Survey publications produced through the Biological Survey Foundation for which a fee is charged. The Survey submits a brief report of highlights twice yearly, to the ESC Executive and Board. A report about the Survey’s work (prepared by the BSC Secretariat) appears twice yearly in the ESC Bulletin. The Survey initiated and sponsored a student award for postgraduates which is administered by the ESC. Symposia are periodically organized for the ESC annual meeting. The BSC holds its annual membership meeting in conjunction with the ESC annual meeting.

(Biological Survey of Canada website)