Science Media Centre

Last night New Zealand’s research community, along with distinguished international guests, kicked off the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. The next six months leading up to October 10 – 150 years to the day that the legislation establishing the New Zealand Institute was signed – will feature a full […]

New Zealand’s leading ‘blue skies’ research fund boosts Kiwi science, but could be tweaked for greater efficiency, says a new study. An evaluation conducted by researchers at Motu Economic and Public Policy Research institute has found that Marsden funding increases the scientific output of the funded researchers. Compared to similar groups that do not receive funding, […]

In her regular science slot, Dr Siouxsie Wiles talks on Radio New Zealand’s Nine to Noon about the special ‘Future of Science’ issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand (and bee vaccines and the mortality of young fathers). You can listen to the segment below and read more about the special […]

The country’s brightest minds ponder the future of science in a special issue of the Journal of Royal Society of New Zealand, to be published this week.  The issue, which will be accessible online for free during the month of August, presents a dozen articles examining what the future holds for science research in Aotearoa. Will research […]

This morning on Radio New Zealand Morning Report scientists and politicians discussed science funding in New Zealand the and difficulties faced by researchers trying to secure grants. Health Research Council chief executive Robin Olds and chairperson of the Marsden Fund, Prof Juliet Gerrard, explained the country’s current funding situation highlighting a lack of research funding. […]

Glaciers, neurobiology, Maori TV and algebra are just a few of the subjects to explored by the recipients of this year’s round of grants from the Marsden Fund – New Zealand’s largest ‘blue skies’ research funding body. Announced today, a total of 88 research projects have been allocated $53.8 million of funding in this year’s […]

Marsden grant winners revealed next week Next Friday will see the public release of details about the winners of the latest Marsden Fund investment round. Journalists registered with the Royal Society will receive embargoed copies of individual funding announcements from next Tuesday. Contact RSNZ communications manager Philippa Sargent for more details. Marsden is the largest […]

The Marsden Fund supports excellence in leading-edge research in New Zealand. Projects are selected annually in a rigorous process by nine panels of experts who are guided by the opinions of world-leading referees. Funding is spread over three years. The Marsden Fund was established by the Government in 1994 and takes its name from the […]