The NZAS is hosting a one-day conference at Rutherford House in Wellington, on 16 April. The conference will focus on early career scientists.
The conference is targeted at emerging scientists, their existing and potential employers, future emerging scientists, policy makers and politicians.
2011 closes on an optimistic note for science and scientists. Science featured prominently in the Speech from Throne in Parliament on Wednesday. This government clearly intends to proceed with its transformation of Industrial Research Ltd into a significantly larger Advanced Technology Institute. The speech also signalled the funding a series of scientific grand challenges to tackle issues of national importance. Good news for our sector, yet there is no sign that moves will be made to alleviate the 8% success rate for the flagship Marsden Fund. This government has clearly signalled it will target its new science spending rather investing long-term in blue skies research.
The Ministry of Science and Innovation has commissioned an independent report focussing on improving access to and uptake of R&D in the high value manufacturing and services sector.
The full report (Powering Innovation) and a summary report were recently released and can be found here.
The report follows last year’s crown research institute taskforce report and is focussed largely on the future role of Industrial Research Limited (IRL).
The Marsden, Shorland and Research Medals and the Science Communicator Award were presented by the Hon Dr Wayne Mapp Minister of Science and Innovation, on Thursday, 9 November, at a ceremony at Turnbull House, Wellington. Dr Mapp briefly addressed the audience noting that his first public address as then Minister of Research, Science and Technology was at the Association’s Awards 3 years ago. And now, as Minister of Science and Innovation and a retiring MP, he was effectively giving his last public address at this year’s Awards ceremony.
A report by Dr Warren Smart, "Do people with doctoral degrees get jobs in New Zealand post study?" has recently been published by the Ministry of Education, analysing the employment of a cohort of doctoral graduates who finshed their PhDs in 2003.
A New Zealand Association of Scientists Council Member and Victoria University researcher has scooped one of this year’s Rutherford Discovery Fellowships.
The Inaugural Asia Pacific Science Policy Studies (SPS) Research Conference will be held in Wellington, 8 to 10 February 2012.
What is the relationship between science and policy decision-making?
How do nations make decisions to invest in science and technology – and how are citizens involved?
We are researchers who would like to express concerns regarding the recently established Rutherford Discovery Fellowships and the current lack of postdoctoral opportunities available for early‐ to mid‐career researchers in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science (NZIAHS) is hosting a forum on 4 October at Te Papa, focused on the role of agricultural and horticultural science and innovation in the future of New Zealand. Speakers include Jon Hickford, Jim Anderton, Garth Carnaby, William Rolleston, Rod Oram, and Shaun Hendy.
Lord Robert Winston will be giving a free public lecture at the Wellington Opera house on 2nd August. As a teaser, here is a video of him talking on the theme of his recent book: Bad Ideas: Will our best technology finish us off?
