Science advisor says agriculture research lacking
August 17th, 2009
The chief science adviser to the PM is calling for greater emphasis on scientific research particularly in the agriculture sector. Sir Peter Gluckman says NZers have to change their attitude to science to regain the “positivity and innovative strength” of the 60s and 70s and lift the country’s productivity. Sir Peter says he can’t think of one challenge society faces in which science has not been part of the solution.
He warns NZ has become ambivalent towards science, the science community is increasingly focused on survival rather than contribution and has “worn out its credibility in pleas to just give us more money.” Businesses have come too late to science to solve problems. Competition between scientists and their organisations for science money and resources in a lightly populated country has damaged the ethos of collaboration.
The media has also failed to inform the public about science “appropriately.” Gluckman says “we seem to have forgotten science and technology, particularly in the agricultural sector, played an essential role in getting this nation to the social and economic pinnacle it once reached, and in my view is absolutely central to us again moving ahead.” He also says “no public funding of research should occur without evidence of true scientific evaluation.”
Sir Peter says he finds it “extraordinary” CRIs do not have external, independent, high-quality advisory boards providing audits and suggesting strategic opportunities. It is also hard to comprehend a state funding system for science which makes money for innovative opportunity projects available only every three years.
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