Laurie WinklessThe NZ science sector is set for a major shakeup (which looks set to be implemented very badly). Top level overview: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/science-sector-shake-up-crown-research-institutes-to-be-grouped-into-three-callaghan-innovation-to-close/UGKERFCYDZEMTHZSL3RRQDP6IY/ #nz #nzscience #aotearoa
What follows are some comments about the reforms from the ever-excellent Professor Nicola Gaston, Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology:
1/x "Today's announcement is long overdue and not unwelcome. My biggest concern about the planned reforms is far less the intent than the implementation.
The prospect of consolidating the CRIs has long been mooted. Creating a fourth to focus on technological areas of importance to emerging areas of the modern economy — such as cleantech, or quantum tech — is also welcome in principle; ...."
The prospect of consolidating the CRIs has long been mooted. Creating a fourth to focus on technological areas of importance to emerging areas of the modern economy — such as cleantech, or quantum tech — is also welcome in principle; ...."
2/x "in practice, it reverses the decision to disestablish Industrial Research Limited that was made by the previous National government when it created Callaghan Innovation.
But implementation matters. Industrial Research Limited had major challenges with a funding model dependent on existing and established industries. I see no thought having been given to how that will work."
3/x "It should also be noted that much of the existing scientific capacity in areas relevant to the new PRO in advanced technologies is currently based in our university sector. How is this expected to work? Partnerships will be important, but if new money is not put into the system then it will be hard to grow capacity and capability."
4/x "Finally, having been around to comment when Callaghan Innovation and the National Science Challenges were first created, I want to stress that these processes of reorganisation take work, and the work done by scientists within the sector to adjust will have a cost in time not spent on science. Given the massive cuts made to both university and CRI workforces over the last couple of years, this is a lot to ask."
5/5 "The mooted reforms have a chance of working and may take us in the right direction. But in order for this to be possible I see two necessary conditions: more resource for the sector to assist with the costs of implementation, and a commitment from policy makers to work with scientists in order to ensure these changes can be implemented as efficiently as possible. I implore this government and MBIE to understand that the real work starts now and with us."
Again, those comments were from Professor Nicola Gaston, via the Science Media Centre NZ. Here's hoping decision-makers take heed of these comments, and those from other leading experts in the STEM sector #nz #science #nzscience