Science - delivering for New Zealanders

All New Zealanders want a secure and prosperous future. To realise this future, there are ongoing social, economic and environmental challenges that must be met and opportunities to seize. Here, science will be essential. If New Zealand is to maintain parity with its global competitors it will need to be more effective in deploying its scientific resources.

Indeed, the Prime Minister said in her most recent speech from the Throne: “My Government believes that science and innovation are critical to driving our prosperity.”

New Zealand’s future prosperity, its desire for higher standards of living and responsiveness to long-term social and environmental change, can only be achieved through the efforts of many parties. Critically, these efforts must come from the development and application of scientific knowledge across the New Zealand public and private sectors.

The Royal Society of New Zealand has established a National Science Panel made up of some of New Zealand’s top science leaders. The Panel will engage with science and business organisations, Government, and the public to realise the full contributions that science must make.

There were 60 nominations from which 12 were appointed. The high calibre of nominations reflects the expectations in the science community of the importance of the task before this Panel.

The members appointed to the Panel are:

Dr Jim Watson, CNZM, FRSNZ, Genesis Research and Development Corporation. (Chair)
Dr Mike Boland, MRSNZ, Riddet Centre at Massey University.
Professor Carolyn Burns, CBE, FRSNZ, University of Otago, President of the RSNZ Academy Council.
Professor Marston Conder, FRSNZ, University of Auckland.
Professor Sally Davenport, Victoria University of Wellington.
Professor Peter Gluckman, CNZM, FRS, FRSNZ, Liggins Institute, University of Auckland.
Professor Stephen Goldson, FRSNZ, CRSNZ, AgResearch and Lincoln University.
Professor Harlene Hayne, FRSNZ, University of Otago.
Mr John Lancashire, President of the NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science.
Mr Paul McGilvary, HortResearch
Professor Caroline Saunders, MRSNZ, Lincoln University.
Professor Jeff Tallon, FRSNZ, Industrial Research Limited and Victoria University of Wellington.

The National Science Panel will seek opportunities to optimise the value of science to New Zealand. It will promote consultation and dialogue across sectors.

On 23 November 2006, the National Science Panel met for the first time to develop its priorities. Among these are issues important to improving the long term vision of New Zealand science. The Panel will seek to promote strategic views of science direction, infrastructure, resourcing, capability and capacity, and respond to opportunities for science to inform policy.

For further information, contact Dr Jim Watson, Chair, Telephone: 09 3735600 Email: j.watson@genesis.co.nz