‍Interview with Troy Baisden, co-president of NZ Association of Scientists about changes to the Marsden Fund. Science with Dr. Troy Baisden | RNZNZ Association of Scientist's Dr. Troy Baisden joins us to cover the latest changes to the Marsden Fund. www.rnz.co.nz  ‍

By tightening the bottleneck of researcher funding, Collins is crushing the ability for new ideas and new teachers to enter the realms of humanities and social sciences, consequently disincentivizing students’ study of these subjects.‍‍ We Are The University Open Letter: Cuts To Marsden Funding For Humanities And Social Sciences - Scoop

‍“I spent five years being fired and rehired, despite doing the same job those five years – denied the benefits of a full employee like annual and maternity leave, a Massey device, performance reviews, promotions, redundancies, and basic security and dignity.” Plea for varsity pay deal at MasseyUnion members have outlined to the university’s council how hard they are finding it. www.thepost.co.nz  ‍

‍Our field is transdisciplinary in nature, underpinned by insights that originate from disciplines such as sociology, history, psychology, education, law, literature and philosophy. In shutting down what has been an influential source of funding to support social science and humanities research, therefore, the minister is undermining the very foundations upon which management and organisation research is based – research which could help prevent a recurrence of the Manawanui disaster. Cuts to research funding will lead the country on to the rocksOPINION: This decision profoundly fails to grasp the interdependencies between academic disciplines, which plays a key role

‍A review of the government's science, innovation, and technology sector, including the role of the prime minister's chief science advisor, is due (sic) in the new year. Review of science sector, role of prime minister's chief science advisor won't be announced until next year | RNZ NewsThe significant job vacancy has been causing concern in the science world since Christopher Luxon has refused to confirm when, or if, a new advisor will be appointed. www.rnz.co.nz  ‍

‍Paul Spoonley, a sociologist at Massey University and the convener of the fund’s social sciences panel, says it’s a mistake to exclude social science. “The idea that somehow the economy doesn’t involve people seems to me a very strange one,” he says. Other researchers fear the cuts will disproportionately slash research by New Zealand’s Indigenous Māori scientists. Amid cuts to basic research, New Zealand scraps all support for social sciencesScientists shocked as “blue-sky” Marsden Fund has half its budget shifted to research focused on helping economy www.science.org  ‍

‍Massey University is still forecasting a financial deficit for the year, but there are signs things are starting to improve. University deficit smaller than expectedSigns of financial improvement may be starting to show. www.thepost.co.nz  ‍

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. # Content-Attribution # Source: scientists.org.nz Date: 2024-12-12T22:23:08+0000

A selection of pieces on the changes to the Marsden Fund. Please feel free to add more in the comments.Universities criticise Marsden Fund cuts, business group backs the move - RNZ 5th DecemberGovt cuts humanities and social science funding – Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre 4th DecemberAll Marsden Fund humanities research cut - Otago Daily Times 5th DecemberUnis, business disagree over Marsden Fund cuts - Waikato Times via Pressreader 6th DecemberFunding research for economic return sounds good – but that’s not how science really works - The Conversation 6th DecemberNew Zealand academia condemns cutting of humanities, social science funding - Xinhua 5th DecemberHumanities expelled fro

‍Evidence-based decision-making also requires reliable insights into the languages, laws, politics and histories not just of New Zealand, but of those other countries with whom we trade, choose as allies, or who might threaten our lives and tranquillity.The disciplines that train researchers to produce this kind of knowledge are, precisely, the social sciences and the humanities. And yet in New Zealand, it seems, world-class research in these fields is no longer needed, and people are irrelevant to the economy. Anne Salmond: Govt de-funding the mind - NewsroomComment: The Government's decision to cut humanities and social science research from its major funding stream

‍Many people in the field say that science-advice systems need further change. Tackling issues such as intergenerational disadvantage, youth mental health, immigration and responses to climate change require different ways of operating, says Peter Gluckman, former chief science adviser to the New Zealand prime minister and now at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. “Science advice is not designed for that at the moment.” Science could solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Why aren’t governments using it?A Nature global survey finds that most specialists are unhappy with systems to provide science advice to policymakers. www.nature.com

‍“What I discovered was the privileging of very scientific-based forms of knowledge, which sidelined Te Ao Māori, for example, as well as any other ways of understanding the same issues and problems.” Are we counting on the right evidence? - The University of AucklandWhat counts as evidence when important decisions are made about social wellbeing in Aotearoa is the focus of a new study at the University of Auckland. www.auckland.ac.nz  ‍