Save Science Coalition publishes report discussing the impact of cuts in the science sector

Genomics for Aotearoa New Zealand is a member of the Save Science Coalition, which is a group of 23 unions and scientific societies who have a collective interest in a well-funded and well-functioning research and science system for New Zealand. The number of member organisations continues to grow, and you can see the latest list at the end of this post. You can also find more information about the Save Science Coalition’s goals here.

One of the Save Science Coalition’s goals is to highlight and catalogue what is being lost through the current cuts. In line with this aim, a report has been published today, Monday 8 July, which details the extent and impact of the current cuts in the science sector, including reductions in funding and job losses. You can see a copy here. This report is being provided to the media, and will be available to the general public, in the hope of raising the profile of the issues occurring in the science sector at the present time.

There is an event this evening at 6pm in Wellington where a panel formed from Save Science Coalition members will be discussing the report, and the impact of these cuts on Aotearoa New Zealand’s future. The panel discussion will be recorded and posted on the Save Science Coalition’s facebook page, so anyone can view it. We are also going to try and livestream it via the PSA's facebook page.

The panelists are:

• Richard Wagstaff - President of the Council of Trade Unions
• Dr. Ben Wylie-van Eerd - Physicist, PSA Delegate, and Member of PSA’s National Science Committee
• Dr. Georgia Carson - Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Māori Engagement Advisor, and member of the Genomics for Aotearoa NZ council

Representatives from the Save Science Coalition’s member organisations have helped collate information for the report. We believe the report is the most comprehensive review of the cuts in the science sector that has been produced to date, and we hope that its publication helps generate public discussion about the value of science in New Zealand.

YOU CAN HELP!

We encourage you to share the report with people you know, talk about it with your friends and family, and help ensure it reaches as many people as possible.

If you have ideas about what future activities the Save Science Coalition could undertake to help progress its goals, you can raise these with GFANZ Council or the Save Science Coalition contact points included below.

Please also like and share the Save Science Coalition facebook page. You can also look at the coalition website for more information.

Current Save Science Coalition members:

• New Zealand Association of Scientists
• Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
• Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union
• Academic Freedom Aotearoa
• NZ Society of Endocrinology
• NZ Ecological Society
• NZCTU | Te Kauae Kaimahi
• Physiological Society of New Zealand
• New Zealand Institute of Forestry
• Geoscience Society of New Zealand
• Aviation and Marine Engineers Society
• NZEI Te Riu Roa
• New Zealand Institute of Chemistry
• The New Zealand Freshwater Science Society – Ngā Kohinga Wai o Aotearoa
• Te Manatōpū Mātai Koiora Moroiti | The New Zealand Microbiological Society
• Genomics for Aotearoa New Zealand
• The Entomological Society of New Zealand
• Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand
• France Aotearoa Science Technology and !nnovation (FAST!)
• New Zealand Society of Plant Biologists
• Association for Women in the Sciences
• New Zealand Marine Sciences Society
• New Zealand Plant Protection Society

Save Science Coalition contact points:

Claire Nicskon - PSA National Science Organister (claire.nickson@psa.org.nz)

Lucy Stewart and Troy Baisden - Co-Presidents NZ Association of Scientists (president@scientists.org.nz)

Please keep an eye out for further updates.

Ngā mihi,

Rob Elshire

GFANZ President

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