Following on our initial expert reactions, and media appearances, NZAS now has a further press release and statement on yesterday's release of the Science System Advisory Group Report and announcements of changes to the research system linked to economic growth and investment.
Find it as a PDF on our Press Releases page, or reproduced below.
Science System Advisory Group report receives only selective engagement from Government
The New Zealand Association of Scientists Co-Presidents are hopeful yet vigilant in their reaction to the reforms in the science sector announced yesterday. They express concern that ‘following consideration’ of the Science System Advisory Group’s (SSAG’s) long-delayed first report, the Government has elected to focus on big-picture restructures and commercial incentives while leaving aside other fundamental changes suggested in the report. This is despite the report’s executive summary warning that ‘Our recommendations should not be seen as a smorgasbord: to have an effective and productive system, changes in the SI&T system must be managed as a set.’[1]”
After the most destructive year for the science system in decades, NZAS Co-President Troy Baisden says: “The changes proposed by the government are not individually without merit, but as a set do not line up with an logical or evidence-based theory of change to deliver and implement effective reforms. Merging CRIs to reduce competition and improve coordination is a well-supported idea, but other well-supported ideas such as an independent Ministry for science and a National Research Council appear to have been left by the wayside. Selling changes driven by commercialisation can’t work when we are falling below the thresholds of public investment in a foundation of research which the SSAG report highlights as critical for incentivising business investment in science, innovation and technology.
The report repeatedly laments the problem of inflated, unrealistic valuations for commercialisation of science and specifically warns that “the naive idea persists … that exploitation of IP [intellectual property]” within institutions “can generate significant income – this is just not the case globally.”[2]
While further work is intended, the long delay and incomplete announcements associated with this report signals likely difficulty with ongoing implementation, including creating an integrated research system across universities and the newly amalgamated Public Research Organisations. Ensuring social licence in the bio-economy sector as gene tech re-enters our landscape, and building in the social sciences and humanities work needed to deliver outcomes around hazards, climate change, and health are missing, as is a clear picture for the place of conservation and environmental research and the role of the growing Māori success in the bio-economy.
Instead the focus in the government’s announcements is on magical versions of ‘value for money’, mirages of investment and economic benefit, while asserting that our under-funded scientists are not delivering enough benefits to the country. While there are real inefficiencies and pointless competition within the system that can and should be addressed, the reality is that New Zealand produces world-class research on tiny budgets, and with growing inefficiency as a result of underfunding and long-term uncertainty. If we further diminish our research system’s role in supporting a productive economy, we may lose our ability to rebuild and remain a ‘small advanced economy.’[3]
There is a risk of increasing the already high overhead on every dollar within institutions that goes to science, feeding more management and pitching of commercialisation. Directing scientists to focus even harder on squeezing more from existing pools of knowledge by focussing on impossible or unlikely commercial revenue and private industry partnerships will diminish both foundations and pipelines of knowledge and human capital.
All those who have seen the sector chase overvalued potential commercialisation over the last 25 years should be clear that the minister’s unrealistic commercialisation hype over the past year, echoed again on Morning Report today,[4] has mainly led to escalating overheads in our institutions – to the extent that we undermine innovation pipelines, business partnerships and foreign investment.[5] The declaration that these significant changes must be managed by re-allocating existing budgets is likely to mean further job losses in order to fund projects like setting up an entirely new advanced technology research organisation. Efficient change is possible, but only by focussing on good architecture and placing experts back in charge of critical decisions and processes as the SSAG recommends.”[6]
Co-President Dr Lucy Stewart adds, “Sir Peter Gluckman’s report explicitly recommends increased public investment in science, a focus on developing a skilled workforce which will see strong involvement from Māori and Pasifika, and displays understanding that humanities and the social sciences, including mātauranga Māori, have ‘multiple roles in enhancing our country’s well-being’[7]. It emphasises the need to view research funding as an investment rather than a cost. None of these elements are reflected in the proposed reforms, or in the announcement which is focused on making the science sector justify the inadequate funding it already receives. It is a hugely limited view of what is a considered and thorough set of recommendations that, if fully implemented as the report recommends, could re-build the fragile foundations of our research and science system.”
“In particular we wish to draw attention to the difference between the report’s recommendations for a Science Innovation and Technology Advisory Council and those announced today. The report envisions a council bringing together politicians and distinguished scientists, as well as those with business and innovation expertise, to make long-term decisions about the direction of research in Aotearoa New Zealand. It also mentions the need for Māori representation, as is appropriate. The released cabinet papers describe a council to be drawn from people with “deep and broad experience in business, impact and commercialisation of SI&T and strong connections with SI&T” and do not mention any involvement from a Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor (PMCSA). In contrast the SSAG report envisions the PMCSA as the Council’s executive officer and a continuing source of scientific advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. We note yet again that the role of PMCSA was left vacant when Dame Juliet Gerrard departed at the end of her five-year term in mid-2024, and funding for the office has since been wound up and staff let go. The announcement today appears to confirm the government no longer sees a role for a PMCSA. We think this epitomises the government’s attitude towards science and the science system. Scientists are only useful if they can make money – but let’s not risk them giving any advice we don’t want to hear.”
Prof Baisden concludes, “The NZAS has one piece of advice for the government – take to heart what the valuable report you commissioned says. We can do this right, and do it efficiently.”
[1] Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) Report: An architecture for the future (Gluckman et al, 2024), page 12, paragraph 8.
[2] SSAG Report, page 60 paragraph 211.
[3] SSAG Report, page 30 paragraph 74 and 75
[4]https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018971960/science-innovation-and-technology-minister-judith-collins-on-changes-to-science-sector
[5] SSAG Report, p 20 paragraph 27, and p 40 paragraph 130
[6] SSAG Report, p12 paragraph 9
[7] SSAG Report, page 8, paragraph 12.
NZAS identified aspects of our aims and purpose that justified a strong, succinct submission opposing the Bill on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Go to our submissions page for the formal submission..
NZAS has submitted to phase 3 of the Universities Advisory Group. See our submissions page for the full document.
Following significant media coverage and commentary over the past week, the NZAS has put out a formal press release addressing the shock changes to the Marsden Fund Terms of Reference. We roundly deplore these changes which undermine the very purpose of the Fund, threaten the viability of social science and humanities research in Aotearoa New Zealand, and represent political meddling with what was widely considered to be the best-functioning, if underfunded, part of our science and research system.
We've announced our 2024 Medalists. Please see our Awards page for the details.
The New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) has completed its submission to the Royal Society Te Apārangi (RSTA) on the Society's proposed governance restructuring.
Royal Society Te Apārangi Governance Consultation Submission (pdf)
NZAS firmly opposes the proposed change and believes that if carried out, it would greatly diminish the standing and effectiveness of the RSTA in its important duties.
Co-President Troy Baisden says, "The restructuring would drop the size of Council by half, effectively ending the standing of the RSTA as a representative body.
"The proposed changes undermine the intent of the legislation establishing RSTA with electoral colleges for constituencies deserving representation at the level of governance. Positions on the newly created advisory board would be a demotion as well with a frustrating and convoluted path to any information or influence."
"Māori, early career researchers, member-based organisation, and regional branches would all be effectively demoted. This would undermine over a decade of great progress and improvement at RSTA."
"The most deeply concerning aspect has been the inability of the RSTA to see that the changes, as well as the consultation itself, violate the accepted conventions of Te Tiriti The Treaty of Waitangi. These responsibilities are embedded in the constitutional framework within which the Act establishing the RSTA sits."
An open letter from Māori academics explained concerns and called on RSTA to pause the process. https://www.maramatanga.ac.nz/news-events/open-letter-president-royal-society
Submissions close today 12 November but the RSTA's governing council plans to consider the changes on 5 December.
For those wanting to make a fast submission, we are trialing a starter tool to help (link).
[Note - we've had trouble with website permissions for PDF files recently so here is an alternate link to our submission - via google docs]
In our view, this illustrates exactly how deep the problems are with the current proposed governance structure. The Royal Society has played an incredibly important role in the research and science system for Aotearoa New Zealand and still has the opportunity to show its commitment to a bicultural, Tiriti-led future. We urge them to listen to this open letter.
We have a further release statement noting the Royal Society Te Apārangi President has effectively confirmed our concerns – they must now be addressed.
"Progress can’t be put back in a bottle. If RSTA pursues its governance reform demoting the diversity representing Māori and the research workforce across career stages, fields and regions, it will cease to hold a meaningful role as our national academy of sciences.”
Link => Read our further release (PDF).
** We are experiencing an intermittent problem with our website so you may need to access the release via the top of our Releases Page if the link above fails. Alternatively, the full text is now below.
Royal Society confirms our concerns and must address to retain trust
An email* from the President of the Royal Society Te Apārarangi (RSTA) acknowledged our concerns outlined in a statement encouraging RSTA to withdraw the proposal for a governance restructuring it has sent out for consultation. Co-President Troy Baisden follows up to note:
● “The RSTA confirms it intends for some sort of Māori electoral college to remain but does not acknowledge that this is demoted from governance to advisory capacity.
● “It is not clear whether future Māori representation would also be decreased from two to a single representative, often criticised as a “lonely only” – which can frequently lead to meetings without representation if the lone voice is not available or becomes unheard.
● “The RSTA has not acknowledged that the demotion of the representation of regional branches from the governing council to the advisory committee appears inconsistent with s23 of the Act establishing the RSTA. Nor has it acknowledged the demotion of representation of diversity including early career researchers and the many professional bodies representing fields and researchers.
“Our deep concerns reflect that the governing council plays a principal role in accountability for an organisation struggling with its messages about retaining excellence while embracing diversity. The President’s email confirms the RSTA is not a “public” organisation but omitted the balance required to maintain the trust justifying its position as a national academy.
“The quality and diversity of governance will matter as long as it can be observed that RSTA’s operations appear to be less transparent and accountable than those of publicly-traded companies, and are not subject to the Official Information Act. Independence has served RSTA and other national science academies well but relies deeply on the quality of governance.
“Progress can’t be put back in a bottle. If RSTA pursues its governance reform demoting the diversity representing Māori and the research workforce across career stages, fields and regions, it will cease to hold a meaningful role as our national academy of sciences.”
If the consultation continues, we encourage RSTA and those attending to expand it to consider what steps it can take to resume its path toward becoming a better performing, publicly accountable, and highly trusted organisation with a substantial role to play in our society.
*email from RSTA President follows.
Subject: Consultation on improvements to the Society’s governance structure
Date: 25 October 2024 at 9:12:28 AM NZDT
To: President, Royal Society Te Apārangi <President@royalsociety.org.nz>
Kia ora koutou,
Further to my message on 15 October 2024, you may have seen yesterday’s media statement from one of our constituent organisations, the New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS).
I would like to reiterate that the aim of the proposal is to apply contemporary best practice, as typically applied across most, including not-for-profit, organisations, to maximise the Council’s effectiveness in governing and supporting the Society to deliver on its long-term strategy. Alongside this, the proposal articulates a structure that is designed to be far better suited to the task of representation and advice. It is intended to enhance and strengthen the ‘voice’ and representation of all of our member groups (currently not all are represented on Council).
For clarity, the Society is an independent not-for-profit membership organisation. Technically, we are a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, not a “public organisation”. The proposal does not include any change in our founding Act, which specifies, amongst other things, the roles of electoral colleges and of Regional Constituent Organisations (now called branches) in appointment of Councillors. The proposal also retains the Māori electoral college.
If you have questions or would like clarity on any aspect of the proposal, we encourage you to join one of the remaining consultation meetings, noting that any member is welcome to attend any session.
Date
Location
Membership focus
25 October
Online
Fellows and Companions
30 October
Māori Electoral College
All Members
31 October
Branches and Constituent Organisations
1 November
ECR Forum Committee
Please email Fiona (fiona.campbell@royalsociety.org.nz) for links to the online meetings.
We also invite you to share your feedback on any aspects of the proposal, and have circulated a feedback form to help with this. Please send your feedback to me at President@royalsociety.org.nz by Tuesday, 12 November 2024. We will incorporate your feedback into a revised proposal for consideration at the Council meeting on 5 December 2024.
I look forward to hearing from you.
With best wishes,
Jane [with full email signature following]
The New Zealand Association of Scientists has issued a statement encouraging the Royal Society Te Apārarangi (RSTA) to withdraw the proposal for a governance restructuring it has sent out for consultation. If not withdrawn, NZAS encourages the members and organisations receiving the proposal to express deep concerns.
Read our Statement (and Press Release)
A group of 85 international leaders in seismic hazards research has released a letter outlining that proposed cuts in GNS Science could "devastate" efforts to understand the seismic and tsunami hazards facing New Zealand.
The concerned international scientists have now released the letter and explained their concerns through an article in The Herald.
The letter was originally sent to the Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, the CE of GNS Science, and the Science System Advisory Group.
NZAS Co-President Troy Baisden expresses concern, "As these international scientists publish their concerns, we know New Zealand faces among the most extreme levels of risk internationally. Insurers and reinsurers are moving to improve their risk-based pricing, and this will have to be important for efforts to maintain investment in infrastructure and housing."
Now is not the time to undermine the experts in New Zealand and the international partnerships that help us understand the hazards we face."
"It is also not a time for us to fall into the usual narrative where international experts defend their New Zealand colleagues, and operational organisations contend they're limited by the public funding they receive, while the Minister says the cuts to staffing are an operational issue."
"This merry-go-round of blame shifting does nothing to address the actual concerns at hand."
Co-President Dr Lucy Stewart adds, “The current Science System Advisory Group process looks set to overhaul our government science sector in the most major changes since the creation of the Crown Research Institutes in the early 1990s. Maintaining and improving our international research relationships must be a key priority of any reforms. As this letter illustrates, losing scientific expertise prior to the conclusion of this process will damage our national capability and international connections in ways which cannot be easily fixed.”
You can read the letter expressing the concerns of the 85 signatories on our website.
We also have a press release on this topic.
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