Action points from Constituent Organisations’ Day 2006

The Royal Society Council has approved the following actions in response to points raised at the Constituent Organisations’ Day held in November 2006.

Action points for RSNZ Council

Links with Electoral Colleges and RSNZ Committees

1. The Electoral College representatives should communicate between the RSNZ Council and back to Constituent Organisations. There should be a more structured requirement for the Council Electoral College representatives to provide Council agendas to Electoral Colleges and report back after Council meetings. The Electoral College representatives should attend the constituents’ meeting once a year. ACTION: Councillors will work to strengthen links back to electoral colleges.

2. Need to clarify the roles of Electoral Colleges on one hand and committees on the other - should they be subsumed together? Consideration should be given to getting these groups together, with modest funding provided to do this. ACTION: Council is considering this in its review of committees.

Links with Business

Should be more coverage/promotion by RSNZ of other areas of science, not just of those exciting the media at any given time. There should be more promotion of the application of science, particularly commercial application. ACTION: Yes, Council is now considering a strategy to link science more closely with business. We have also inaugurated a Science to Business communicators’ course.

Action points for RSNZ staff

Membership

Constituent Organisations face the problem of getting people to do jobs within a voluntary organisation. When joining an organisation, people ask the question “what’s in it for me, not what can I contribute?” —a self-interest problem. Some societies are increasing in number and some are decreasing. ACTION: RSNZ to review its list of benefits, currently listed as:

Opportunity to subscribe to our 25 or more regular electronic newsletters (including, Member News, Daily News and International News [see www.rsnz.org/directory/elist.php]);
The updated list of conferences held within and outside New Zealand;
Up-to-date science and technology documentation;
Science publication bookshop;
Funding information.
The weekly e-mail newsletter Alert" summarising the latest S&T information.
The Society's annual report.
Certificate of membership and RSNZ lapel pin
Listing on RSNZ website
Opportunity to vote in elections and stand for Council.
The services of Society and Academy Council and Committees.
Advance notice of outstanding speakers.
Opportunity to gain RSNZ support for policy/strategy positions and advice to government.
Discounts on subscriptions to the 8 science journals published by RSNZ.
Access to International Council for Science funding for projects.
Links to over 100 world S&T bodies and national organisations.
The opportunity to be considered for expert panels on issues of public interest.

Policy

1. There is concern among Constituent organisations about “moving feast’ funding, no long-term active strategy for science with targets. There needs to be a funding reform, particularly stable funding. ACTION: RSNZ will continue to stress this in policy submissions to Government.

2. Formation of policy—should individual Constituent Organisations be involved? ACTION: Yes, we do distribute drafts for comment as time permits. See “Guidelines covering expert advice” on http://www.rsnz.org.policy/

3. In the future we are likely to experience attracting good graduates and engaging in “brain exchange” due to developing countries providing significant initiatives to attract back their own. ACTION: Agreed. Will build this point into appropriate policy advice papers.

4. The demographic changes taking place in New Zealand have to be acknowledged and accepted with targeted policies to recognise indigenous knowledge systems, gender movement in careers and attracting Maori and Pacific Islanders into science. The R&D community is aging and we need to train people now for 10-15 years hence. ACTION: Agreed. RSNZ targets youth, but will attempt to do more at University level and with Māori/Pasifika.

5. Need to do more to nurture the human resources capacity. ACTION: Yes. See “More Stable funding” on http://www.rsnz.org/policy/

Communication and media

1. There could be a role for RSNZ to act as a “clearing house” to connect expertise between societies, e.g., recognising when a scientist wants to work with an engineer. RSNZ could set up a search mechanism enabling linkages to be made between relevant expertise. ACTION: Will investigate web-based linking service.

2. Many Constituent Organisations have difficulty with the media. Need course/education in dealing with the media. RSNZ could facilitate media liaison for scientists. ACTION: RSNZ does offer a science communicators’ course.

3. RSNZ Alert—can the format be improved? Less text with more hyperlinks for those who need more. ACTION: Yes, will refer to ALERT editor for implementation.

4. Agreed that any efforts by RSNZ to improve communication should be a priority. ACTION: RSNZ members can also help here. They are the main strength of the Society.

5. Website--can it be improved? Very big, very complex. Maybe split it in 2 or 3 (e.g., members-only site with information specific to them). ACTION: Website now under review.

6. Need to move to a culture which is much more positive about science among scientists and the community. ACTION: Yes. This is the sole aim of RSNZ communications, and all RSNZ members need to be actively playing their part.

7. RSNZ should advise branches of visiting speakers well in advance. RSNZ should take lead in bringing out speakers from Royal Society (London) ACTION: Agreed. RSNZ currently negotiating for two speakers: Professor Steven Rose and Sir David King.

Professional development

There is coaching for budding sportspeople but where is the similar scheme for budding young scientists? ACTION: RSNZ currently runs an annual “emerging scientists workshop”, and is investigation expanding its courses in partnership with NZIM and ARMS (Australasian Research Management Society).

Specific issues

1. RSNZ could/should produce key facts on an issue what we know and what we don’t know, e.g., about climate change. ACTION: See RSNZ Alpha and Gamma series (http://www.rsnz.org/education/learning_resources/). We covered Climate Change in June 2005.

2. Climate change issues. Approach by RSNZ seems to be more to individuals rather than interested groups/organisations. Need to broaden contacts perhaps if at all possible in time frames available. ACTION: Not sure we understand point, but have covered climate change in radio series, lecture series, and workshops offered via Branches.

Liaison with Royal Society

If Constituent organisations have Issues who do they call? E.g., Marsden Fund disgruntled members asking for a body to voice their concerns. How is this easily communicated to RSNZ members? One suggestion was that an RSNZ employee act a one stop shop. The concerns could then be communicated to the relevant part of the RSNZ more efficiently. ACTION: Yes, the one-stop shop by phone is our switchboard (04-472-7421). By e-mail, the CEO, or check our org chart at http://www.rsnz.org/directory/staff.php

Medals and awards

There appear to be no Royal Society medals or awards for teams. ACTION: The NZ S&T Medals administered by RSNZ on behalf of Government can be awarded to groups.

Action points for RSNZ committees

Communication

1. RSNZ distance from constituent bodies. A problem? Not necessarily - arms length often OK, but sometimes can be an issue, eg. Hydrological society was unaware of an RSNZ organised conference/workshop dealing with hydrological issues and it conflicted with their own conference. More communication is required. ACTION: Committees to ensure that they alert Constituent Organisations when planning an event.

2. RSNZ committees could communicate directly with interested organisations. ACTION: Committees to ensure that they alert Constituent Organisations when planning an event.

3. Gorillas. Need better gorilla spotters within the RSNZ and even at meetings like Constituent Organisations’ Day. Non-scientists should be appointed to RSNZ Committees to give another point of view. ACTION: Invite Committees to consider broadening membership

4. RSNZ could/should facilitate public debate on issues such as fluoridation, vaccination, GM, biosecurity. ACTION: RSNZ Committees to review possibilities. NB. Our 2005 conference was on biosecurity

Education

1. Contacts with schools are applauded as very active and good. The challenge remains to connect the interest through the range of activities into attracting young people into careers in science and technology. Need to develop curiosity about science at early childhood and invest in them. ACTION: Agreed, will refer to Education Committee.

2. Need to provide teaching as first choice career for science graduates. ACTION: Education Committee is addressing.

3. NCEA Science curriculum, concerns about Planet Earth & Beyond. RSNZ making a submission. Would be good to involve other bodies in that process if at all possible. At least invite them to do so to add weight. ACTION: Will remind all committees to involve Constituent Organisations.

4. Need to bring back passion into a learning culture, promote excellence, overcome distrust and engage teachers and parents. ACTION: Education Committee is addressing.

Links with Electoral Colleges

Social Science Organisations have no feeling of being engaged as Constituent Organisations. They wondered about membership and activities of the RSNZ Social Sciences Committee (and other committees for which social science knowledge/expertise might be valuable). They know of no feedback provided from RSNZ’s Committee Chair to relevant Constituent Organisations. Because they are voluntary societies, these organisations are unlikely to be able to give short term responses to issues, draft papers. They would like earlier engagement about topics, issues being considered so that they have time to respond. These organisations have concerns over the RSNZ Code of Ethics as they have individual codes as well. ACTION. This committee is a highly active one, and will work to strengthen information links to its electoral college members.

Action points for Constituent Organisations

Advocacy

Some societies are providing feedback to Government others are not. ACTION: Constituent Organisations.

Action points for Branches

Membership and meetings

Set time of meetings in relation to transport, employment. Have meetings at different time of day.
Pass-through membership arrangements with RSNZ were considered a great idea and could increase Branch membership
Appropriateness of venue (access, parking, ease of finding for new people) should be considered.
Local research organisations should be contacted
Target recent Fellows for talks/membership
Give top prize-winners in regional science fairs free membership until 21 yrs (but need to do something with them)
Advertising - make use of free community columns, posters in shops and workplaces. Branches should market themselves to up-and-coming scientists

Communication

Talks should be related to interests for young people, or relate talks to curriculum
Provide a range of talks for different interest groups there can be more interest in controversial topics
Combine with another group to bring a speaker
Café Scientifique is a successful alternative to a normal meeting but does not necessarily translate into membership. The 7X7 initiative was also mentioned.
Specialised groups within a Branch can leave Branch altogether rather than strengthen it. Combined meetings give an opportunity to reach a wider audience.
They also felt that there should be more communication between Branches and Constituents Organisations about speakers and conferences.

Other

Record histories from elderly scientists for oral history centre in National Library (Wellington Branch is undertaking a pilot scheme and with funding this could be developed nationwide).

Action points for National Science Panel

1. A stronger voice to government? Perception that RSNZ not visibly expressing criticism. Criticism of science funding structures / mechanisms, analysis of same, proactive alternative models. ACTION: National Science Panel now in place. RSNZ advice tries to be responsible and constructive.

2. Science is a long-term project which one can’t flit in and out of so need targets with strategies. Need to maintain the investment and commitment in science and technology education throughout the system. ACTION: Agreed. National Science Panel is pursuing.