NZAS Updates - SSAG Phase 2 Submissions and more
NZAS has sent made submissions to the final phase of the Science System Advisory Group. In addition its full detailed four page submission (available on our Submissions page), the NZAS Co-Presidents have provided a brief submission outlining their view of what successful reform science system reform should look like.
The overview is reproduced here:
Thank you for seeking this second round of input on the future of our research and science system. We broadly agree with and support the first Science System Advisory Group report and look forward to your final report and hope that it will have the desired impact.
The nature and length of the Phase 2 submissions has led us to submit a brief overarching commentary separately. In doing so, we point to differences in emphasis and sequencing in how we think the most effective solutions to the crises in our research system can be structured. We also briefly highlight our key points provided in response to your question 4.
First, solutions must focus on funding people - it is our overwhelming position that many of the major problems with our system can be addressed by understanding how to stabilise the role of our researchers. The responsiveness and predictability of the current “full-cost” system links all costs to researcher’s time. This must be a central consideration in converting reform to the intended outcomes. At the same time, the system has failed our researchers by making their committed time precarious and fragmented. It saddles them with internationally anomalous overheads, which appear to be escalating through 400% in some CRIs making everything from Fast-Start Marsdens to the future design of the Antarctic Science Platform increasingly unworkable. The anomalous overheads can be attributed to two simple factors, and the inability of our institutions and ministry to understand and control them. They are the hyper-competitive funding system and tendency to see commercialisation and consultancy as the dominant future sources of funding.
It is possible to put efficient, effective delivery of science back in the hand of scientists, by funding a large proportion of their time to deliver accountably on missions identifiable within research communities and their stakeholders. This is a scale at which important issues can be addressed, but much smaller than the scale of National Science Challenges or the failed Priorities process under Te Ara Paerangi. At this scale, reputation and trust are palpable and efficient reporting can populate the neglected goal of effective monitoring through a national Research Information System. What is funded should be funded stably and appropriately for what is needed. Fellowships can play an important interim role in stabilising costs and people at the same time, particularly in areas where rebuilding independence, trust, mobility and connectivity is needed. The support for Māori researchers to succeed permeably between mainstream institutions as well as wānanga and iwi/Māori institutions without being asked to do a ‘’double duty” can be used to test proposed solutions.
Success should rebuild connectivity between PROs, universities and business. It will also continue to attract and build excellent researchers by realising that better institutions will empower their researchers to look after the ideas and knowledge represented by the analogy of a reservoir built and maintained through core public research funding, which then flows through to economic outcomes and other benefits to society.
We also met with the Minister in recent weeks. Keep an eye here - we'll be posting our notes and communications shortly. As you can imagine – what we've discussed with the Minister echoes what we said in the submission.
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Source: scientists.org.nz
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