Science Media Centre

UPDATED 11.00 AM, MAY 3: The Government this week announced the ten areas that have been selected for special focus and additional funding as New Zealand’s National Science Challenges. The National Science Challenges are a new initiative to tackle the most important science-based issues and opportunities facing New Zealand by targeting a series of goals [...]

How has the recent shift towards economic valuation of science and its outputs affected the day-to-day lives of working scientists and the direction of research in this country?   In a time of rapid change, how can scientists adapt to and even benefit from changing priorities? What risks getting lost when policymakers shift their focus [...]

A statement released by GNS Science on the conviction of Italian scientists on manslaughter charges: The manslaughter conviction of six scientists and a government official in the wake of the magnitude 6.3 L’Aquila earthquake in Italy in 2009 is a complex matter involving legal, scientific, emotional and political aspects. It is also concerned with a [...]

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Sir Peter Gluckman, outlines the important role Auckland will play in the future of New Zealand’s science and technology sector. An excerpt (read in full here): Science key to richer country New Zealand’s export economy has been dominated by its primary industries, commodities [...]

UPDATED: Bill English unveiled the Budget for 2011-12 this afternoon with no new funding for science, but a reprioritisation of funding in some areas. Overall, core science and innovation remains relatively flat at $773.7 million (down $13.9 million year on year) for the next financial year. A spokesperson for science and innovation minister Dr Wayne [...]

Following the release of Sir Peter Gluckman’s report on evidence in policy making, Tim Watkin from TVNZ’s Q+A show has taken a closer look at how science operates in the political sphere. An excerpt (read in full here): Tim Watkin: Politics needs science Politics is often described as a contest of ideas, and so it [...]

Why do some people staunchly maintain their beliefs in the face of irrefutable evidence to the contrary? Journalist Chris Mooney investigates this question in an excellent article written for the magazine/website Mother Jones. His piece, titled “The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science“, covers issues such as climate change, the vaccine debate and creationism. [...]

Anthony Doesburg writes about a recent Auckland event bringing universities and businesspeople together to showcase university R&D. Sir Ray Avery, a scientist and former New Zealander of the Year, also suggests that another way to bring New Zealand up the International Innovation Index rankings, is to start with a real world problem and then use [...]

At this morning’s SCANZ conference in Auckland, the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, gave a speech about the ever-increasing importance (and difficulty) of the interaction between scientists, media, policy makers, politicians and the public. The full transcript is available below. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you. I want to [...]

Two new, independent boards which will be responsible for science and innovation funding, have been set up and their members announced. They will be chaired by Dr William Rolleston and Professor Sir David Skegg, respectively. An excerpt: (read in full) Research, Science & Technology Minister Wayne Mapp says the boards will be key players in [...]