The Royal Society of New Zealand has published their paper Threats to Research Funding in New Zealand. As you would expect from them, the paper is well reasoned, constructive and proposes “a framework that is strategic, enduring, and focused on sustaining critical capability in New Zealand.” But lets be blunt, the two major threats to…
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Baby Steps towards Lysenkoism
Disclaimer: Mentioning Lysenko is perhaps the scientific equivalent of Godwin’s law but, for the recent arrivals to the party, I enjoyed this article from the Conversation: https://theconversation.com/the-tragic-story-of-soviet-genetics-shows-the-folly-of-political-meddling-in-science-72580 MBIE is busily rounding up all the decision-making in administering science funding. The Marsden Funding has been taken off the Marsden Council and the Health Research Council Funding…
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Supporting Advanced Technologies at the Bottom of the Universe
Disclaimer: George worked for both the DSIR ChemDiv and Industrial Research Limited and, as everyone will tell you, is prone to viewing the science landscape through rose-tinted glasses. He doesn’t think he made anything up completely but perhaps check with Auntie Google. MBIE is beavering away setting up the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology…
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Institutional Caps for MBIE Transition Funding
Disclaimer: George was educated to be a good Christian gentleman and so when he is asked to talk about something positive, he does his best. He can also tell you that Matthew Chapter 13: Verse 12 reads, “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not,…
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