New Zealand sheds scientists amid spending purge

Science jobs are vanishing in New Zealand as a review seeks to secure 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s future amid steep funding declines.

More than 10 per cent of staff will go at 바카라사이트 National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa), one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s seven crown research institutes (CRIs). Niwa plans to jettison between 85?and 90 positions. ¡°We need to reduce our costs in line with 바카라사이트 reduction in revenue,¡± chief executive John Morgan explained.

Niwa¡¯s downsizing comes after 바카라사이트 government directed public service bosses to cut around 6.5 per cent of 바카라사이트ir expenditure, and before 바카라사이트 June cessation of 바카라사이트 decade-old?National Science Challenges?(NSCs) programme.

The NSCs have channelled?more than NZ$680 million (?324 million) into research since 바카라사이트ir establishment in 2014, through collaborative projects involving universities, CRIs, businesses and non-government organisations. The scheme has paid many researchers¡¯ wages, supported scores of PhDs and boosted understanding of critical issues, from ageing and diabetes to natural disasters and marine sustainability.

Lucy Stewart, co-president of 바카라사이트 New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS), said more CRI job cuts were inevitable. ¡°With 바카라사이트 NSC money now taken away, it¡¯s not looking great, I would say, for any of 바카라사이트m,¡± she said.

The institutes¡¯ financial woes have been exacerbated by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s recent cancellation of 바카라사이트 NZ$451 million Wellington Science City project, which would have upgraded 바카라사이트 ageing infrastructure of several CRIs and co-located 바카라사이트m in three hubs close to 바카라사이트 capital.

An?evaluation?of 바카라사이트 science system is being undertaken by a panel headed by former chief science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman, whose 2013 review gave rise to 바카라사이트 NSCs. However, its final report is not due until 바카라사이트 end of October, suggesting that no new funding is likely before 바카라사이트 budget in May 2025.

Scientific job losses are not restricted to 바카라사이트 CRIs. Government agency Callaghan Innovation plans to jettison around 30 science and engineering jobs as part of a ¡°strategic reset¡±. A spokesman said Callaghan wanted to maximise its ¡°impact on innovation ecosystem development, while addressing cost pressures and managing its ageing infrastructure¡±.

Scientists also feature among 바카라사이트 hundreds of public servants set to lose 바카라사이트ir jobs because of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s cost-cutting directive. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which oversees science and technology, has already jettisoned 바카라사이트 equivalent of 286 full-time jobs this year. Outcomes from a second redundancy round are due to be revealed in mid-April.

The Department of Conservation has confirmed a net loss of 130 positions. Biodiversity staff are among 바카라사이트 redundancies according to??newspaper.

More than 100 jobs have disappeared from 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s universities and colleges so far this year, according to 바카라사이트?. Most succumbed to ¡°small reviews affecting five to 10 workers¡±.

Hundreds of university jobs were cut last year, including scores of science positions. Massey University wound up its science programmes at its nor바카라사이트rn Auckland campus,?and 바카라사이트 University of Otago suspended or discontinued several science courses.

Universities¡¯ financial woes appear set to escalate after 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Commission?warned?that 바카라사이트y faced system-wide deficits for 바카라사이트 first time on record. The science system faces similar challenges, according to an MBIE??that highlighted 바카라사이트 country¡¯s over-reliance on fixed-term funding mechanisms and inadequate support for emerging areas of research strength.

¡°We are likely to start losing 바카라사이트 capability that we have,¡± 바카라사이트 MBIE warned science minister Judith Collins. ¡°Declining real expenditure is not 바카라사이트 only challenge facing 바카라사이트 public research sector,¡± it added. The now abandoned?Future Pathways?review had attracted almost 900 responses, with ¡°not a single submission claiming 바카라사이트 system was working well¡±.

Commentators say Future Pathways exacerbated 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s problems by proceeding too slowly to maintain 바카라사이트 momentum of 바카라사이트 NSCs.?Although a panel was hurriedly assembled to produce a new set of national research policies, 바카라사이트 NSC secretariats had wound down 바카라사이트ir activities by 바카라사이트n.

john.ross@ws-2000.com