Science Media Centre

A group of expert climate researchers has rounded robustly on 16 scientists who complained in the Wall Street Journal (No Need to Panic About Global Warming) that presidential candidates should understand that the statement that “nearly all scientists demand that something dramatic be done to stop global warming” is not true. The complaint used Auckland [...]

An industry report has revealed some positive growth in biosciences, but warns there may be a cash-flow crisis coming. This week saw the release of the 2010 Bioscience Industry Report from NZBIO, an industry group made up of corporate members from across agbiotech, human health, industrial and environmental and food bioscience. Statistics presented in the [...]

Designating ecologically-poor slabs of the ocean — which miners and fishers don’t want — as marine protected areas (MPA) is “ridiculous” a major science journal, Nature, says in an editorial. “Good” MPAs such as those in Hawaii and around the Great Barrier Reef could bring great benefits, from saving individual species from extinction to preserving [...]

In an open letter to the Conservation Minister, a group of over 100 New Zealand scientists have expressed their “collective dismay” at the restructuring of the Department of Conservation. The letter, released today, called for the government to commit to a well-funded Department of Conservation. It was sent  in response to the government’s announcement that [...]

The faltering march of an invasive ant species has been making headlines both in New Zealand and overseas. The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), first detected in New Zealand over 20 years ago, is well known internationally for its ability to spread in new territories. The ants are concern to authorities as the ants compete with [...]

A New Zealander has captured the first amateur photograph of solar system other than our own, drawing international attention. Rolf Olsen, of Titirangi, captured the star Beta Pictoris, and the disk of debris and dust orbiting it, by taking a series of photos and subtracting differences in the images  using Photoshop. You can see the original image [...]

A 14th century scientific instrument brought to New Zealand by a family emigrating from the north of England in the 1860s could fetch up to $NZ400,000 at auction in London next month. The  brass quadrant marked with the badge of King Richard II was brought to New Zealand in the 1860s by a family which [...]

New Zealand academics have reviewed the governments stance on climate change and decried the lack of action in developing solid policies to address key climate issues. In an article published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, researchers from Otago and Victoria Universities reviewed websites and media releases, evaluating the governments last three year’s policy and [...]

The forensic analysis of paint has lead to the fining of a fisherman for the illegal dumping of excess fish,  Facing robust scientific evidence, a Tauranga commercial fisher has pleaded guilty in the Tauranga District Court to a charge of being a party to the dumping of snapper. Dumping of legal size quota species of [...]

The much anticipated ‘Powering Innovation’ report, released this week, sets out a number of recommendations to improve New Zealand’s high-value manufacturing sector. The report – and the governments support of it – has been the cause of much excitement in the business community. Among the reports recommendations, the most notable was the call to restructure [...]

A swathe of newly published research on the Christchurch Quakes has revealed scientific insights into the tragic disaster. The international journal Seismological Research Letters published a special issue focusing solely on the Christchurch earth quakes. A total of 19 new research articles were included in the issue, covering a range of areas such as liquefaction, [...]

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