KEY POINTS:
A group of leading scientists says New Zealand's science system is in urgent need of an overhaul, and warned that it is incapable of providing the country with what it needs to achieve economic transformation.
The National Science Panel's manifesto said "science policy over the past decade in
New Zealand has resulted in a gradual disempowerment of science and scientists". The panel was led by Dr Jim Watson.
The "radical plan ... to save New Zealand science" made 10 recommendations such as developing a national science strategy, establishing an office of the chief scientist, increasing investments in research, science and technology and building national recognition of the public value of science. It called for policy to be evidence-based and the promotion of science in the education system.
After a year of research and analysis, which included interviews with senior science officials and discussions with business leaders, the panel concluded that "the nation has failed to develop a system that appropriately uses its scientific capability".
Dr Watson, who chaired the panel, said: "The evidence is conclusive, recruitment of young people into science at universities is well below the levels we need ... and many of the country's most able scientists are emigrating.
"Of those who remain, the most capable spend a great deal of their time bidding and compliance processes, thus further eroding the scientific leadership this country needs."
The panel said New Zealand needs "fair methods of distributing funding, reducing bureaucracy and overheads, making compliance less onerous and better integrating science into policy development", although it approved of recent initiatives such as NZ Fast Forward Fund and Stable Funding.
"For a small nation like ours, a good science system is a necessity, not a luxury," Dr Watson added.
"Historically, NZ industry and our environment have received major benefits from scientific research and its application. However, for this to happen in the future requires an urgent and well co-ordinated approach and a bipartisan commitment to restore the health of our science system.
"New Zealand needs a deeper pool of research knowledge, ideas and opportunities, we need to retain excellent people. We need to build critical mass".
Research, science and technology minister Pete Hodgson slammed the report as "dated" and said "it might have been better if it had been revised before it was released".
While Mr Hodgson said he agreed with some of the recommendations, he said most of them had already been done.
"The guys got together a couple of years ago, and the report was written last year," he said. "I don't know why they waited until now to release it."
Mr Hodgson said it was his opinion that the country is making quite useful progress in science, but acknowledged that "we have clearly got further to go".
But National Party spokesman for research, science and technology, Paul Hutchison, described the report as "sensible and sobering".
"It is very serious when our country's most eminent scientists declare that ... science has ceased to play a leading role in shaping the nation's future," he said.
The National Science Panel of 11 scientists was established by the Royal Society of New Zealand in November 2006 " ... to identify barriers that limit the contribution that research, science and technology in New Zealand and work to remove them".
Mr Hodgson said the Government would contribute $1 million a year to the newly-established Rutherford Foundation.
Founded by the Royal Society of New Zealand, Cambridge University and Freemasons New Zealand, it aimed to provide funds for PhD education, postdoctoral research and early career development in science.
The first two Royal Society Scholars will be announced on December 10, the centenary of Ernest Rutherford's Nobel prize in chemistry.
RECOMMENDATIONS
* Develop a national science strategy.
* Establish an office of the chief scientist.
* Increase investments in research, science and technology.
* Build national recognition of the public value of science.
