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Reposted by NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists

Te Ara Paerangi Com - Research Advocacy Capability @te-ara-paerangi.community · 2d

14 years ago Paul Callaghan gave this talk. It leaned in to the idea of making Aotearoa New Zealand a place where talented people wanted to live. Our government is hell bent on doing the opposite.
@nzscientists.bsky.social
#NZPOL

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · 19d

You know about NZ's cuts to research funding? How bleak is it for climate change research?

Bleak.

Explainer and perspectives now outside Carbon News NZ's paywall. www.carbonnews.co.nz/news/35492/s...

Carbon News

Carbon News NZ Climate Policy Carbon Markets

www.carbonnews.co.nz

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Sep 3

Did you catch news that the Universities Advisory Group (UAG) reports were released, but the government binned or balked on many of the key recommendations?

The whole process went from shelved to buried yesterday morning.

www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/09/03/u...

University sector changes announced - Expert Reaction

The Government will be changing aspects to New Zealand's higher education system, informed by a recently released report by the University Advisory Group. Changes include a new strategy for all of New...

www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Sep 1

UAG report and cabinet paper are out. Gluckman: Read the Interim Report’s strategic approach first (before getting lost in the operational details.) Alas, if only more of the strategic recommendations had a clear path to implementation… www.education.govt.nz/our-work/inf...

University Advisory Group

We formed the University Advisory Group (UAG) in March 2024 at the request of the Government.

www.education.govt.nz

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Aug 22

Our parliament might give us confidence in the government's approach to the science if answers were delivered with care and clarity. youtu.be/2Glk1fHNMaU?...

Reuben Davidson (Labour) on Research, Science, Innovation and Technology Oral Q 12 22Aug2025

YouTube video by New Zealand Association of Scientists

youtu.be

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Aug 15

Robust debate in Parliament yesterday, with questions from Scott Willis to Shane Reti MP about cuts, job losses and whether reprioritisation will yield clarity or any benefits. The answers aren't reassuring but it is good to see this getting attention. youtu.be/Vam6UmnvtyY

RSIT in Parliament – Oral Q5 14 Aug 2025

YouTube video by New Zealand Association of Scientists

youtu.be

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Reposted by NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists

Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Aug 6

Unsurprisingly shocking news: the Advanced Technology Institute is being funded by mortgaging the future of other science funding.

Had you wondered whether we're rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, or playing musical chairs?

It's both.

www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/08/06/f...

Further cuts fund new tech institute - Expert Reaction

Details of new changes to research funding under sweeping science sector reforms have been released today. The briefing confirms that set up of the NZ Institute for Advanced Technology will be paid fo...

www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz

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Reposted by NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists

Dr Tara McAllister @taramcallister.bsky.social · Jul 24

If you're a researcher in NZ please do our very short survey on the Vision Mātauranga policy! We are keen to hear your opinions. DM for the survey link

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NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists @nzscientists.bsky.social · Jul 3

Sadly, we agree that simply archiving doesn't attract use. What we can do is offer a special issue of the New Zealand Science Review that could turn NZ focussed content into a coherent open archival volume if there is interest in compiling a proposal and emailing to editor at scientists.org.nz (2/2)

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NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists @nzscientists.bsky.social · Jul 3

We have discussed and echo our co-President @lcsnz.bsky.social's comment. Part of the history of NZ science has been the development of commercial conference providers, resulting in gaps in connectivity and poor archival. They run the website, so might be an optional service. (1/2) ^tb

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NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists @nzscientists.bsky.social · Jul 3

Reminder - applications close 1 August. Note the new medal debut this year...

NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists @nzscientists.bsky.social · May 30

📢 Applications open for the 2025 Science Medals from the New Zealand Association of Scientists. scientists.org.nz/how-to-apply

Check out this thread for the medals available - including one NEW this year.

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jul 1

MethaneSat appears lost.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines...

We'll be pondering NZ's $29m for some time.

Good tracking by @eloisegibson.bsky.social.

My big question: did the same MBIE people who botched the science system we're still trying to fix move across and mess this up too? #commercialisation

Taxpayer funded satellite likely "irrecoverable" after losing contact with the ground

A methane-tracking satellite which was given $29 million from the New Zealand government has lost contact with the ground.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jul 1

A more balanced story over in Newsroom (out of paywall tomorrow) with me providing Newsroom Pro's chart of the day newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/01/s...

Science sector merged but funding gaps remain

The dawn of a new era for NZ science was met by hopes for efficiency and collaboration, but scientists’ pleas for more funding continue to echo

newsroom.co.nz

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jul 1

Not mentioned are that some of the key issues - erosion, wetlands, and what climate information means for farmer all cross between the two institutes, despite the merger.

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jul 1

Articles out today on directions of the mergers in the research system open up some of the concerns, and also suggest benefits may not come quickly.

Farmers weekly perspective suggests my worst case scenario could apply. www.farmersweekly.co.nz/technology/s...

Science head sees old problems in new-look PROs

NZ Association of Scientists co-president questions benefits to sector from new model.

www.farmersweekly.co.nz

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jun 30

Still trying to make sense of Day One for the "PROs" which are still CRIs. How 'public' will these Public Research Organisations be?

We have a news page and much wider resources up at NZAS.

scientists.org.nz/news/13515621

a group of cartoon characters with hurrah for science whoo

ALT: a group of cartoon characters with hurrah for science whoo

media.tenor.com

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jun 13

Science matters and the quality rapid and expert information we get from GeoNet seems to be at risk. Worse, how can we know as science disappears under layers of management and messaging?

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jun 13

“I have no doubt that if we were unlucky to experience a tsunami in our lifetime, a future Royal Commission of Inquiry will definitely find whoever defunded this monitoring centre as culpable.” -Ilan Noy newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/12/n...

Quake, tsunami monitoring at risk from job cuts

Analysts watching for potential tsunamis, earthquakes and eruptions are due to be laid off despite experts warning of the risks

newsroom.co.nz

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jun 13

That accumulated trust could well be lost now.

In addition, it may be that the apparent increase in funding in future years for restructured Māori research funds was simply the result of hidden knowledge that this years awards would be cancelled just after Budget 2025 emerged.

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jun 13

Successive governments have made major steps to build up Māori research, and there's a strong argument that's one of the best ways to uplift our overall well being.

Jenny Sinclair in the Research Professional (no paywall) www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-new-...

NZ$31m Māori research fund cancelled at the last minute - Research Professional News

Researchers left reeling as government priorities are cited as reason for cancellation

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jun 13

Will the trust and engagement of Māori communities with the research system recover from this last minute cut, after almost two years of development of a few major programme proposals and implementation plans? 1/n

Fox Meyer in Newsroom (outside the Paywall tomorrow) newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/13/g...

Govt cuts Māori research projects that don't fit with 'growth agenda'

New Māori research funding came alongside cuts to a pre-existing pathway, leaving the three projects already halfway through the process in the lurch.

newsroom.co.nz

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NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists @nzscientists.bsky.social · Jun 11

Have you considered applying or nominating a colleague? Application close 1 August.

NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists @nzscientists.bsky.social · May 30

📢 Applications open for the 2025 Science Medals from the New Zealand Association of Scientists. scientists.org.nz/how-to-apply

Check out this thread for the medals available - including one NEW this year.

Reposted by NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists

Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jun 11

Arguably the responsibility to articulate the nation's science policy needs shouldn't fall to emerging researchers. Yet, here we are ...

A group of early career Antarctic researchers describe how research in their patch is being systematically undermined.

thespinoff.co.nz/science/10-0...

Why New Zealand must invest in the next generation of Antarctic researchers

At a time of geopolitical upheaval and uncertainty, it's a critical way to help ensure New Zealand maintains its influence in Antarctic affairs.

thespinoff.co.nz

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Troy Baisden @troybaisden.bsky.social · Jun 3

The (very small) case of recently announced targeted Māori research funding has exposed how poorly science policy processes are working. Yet another case where funding levels are mismatched to what we should be sensibly aiming to achieve.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-new-...

Merger of Māori research funds causes major concern - Research Professional News

Move “continues NZ government’s wrongheaded fixation with turning science into the handmaiden of economic development”

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists @nzscientists.bsky.social · May 30

📢 Applications open for the 2025 Science Medals from the New Zealand Association of Scientists. scientists.org.nz/how-to-apply

Check out this thread for the medals available - including one NEW this year.

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