RNZ has reported that a review of the government’s science, innovation, and technology sector, including the role of the prime minister’s chief science advisor, is due in the new year.

A spokesperson for Christopher Luxon told RNZ both the review findings and any appointment of a new advisor would be made public at that time.

Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, the first person to hold the position, was appointed by Sir John Key in 2009.

He was succeeded by Professor Dame Juliet Gerrard was appointed by Dame Jacinda Ardern in 2018.

Her term expired in June.

RNZ reported:

The significant job vacancy has been causing concern in the science world since Luxon has refused to confirm when, or if, a new advisor will be appointed.

Simon Kingham was chief science advisor to the Ministry of Transport until May. He told Checkpoint the lack of hiring going on was “concerning”.

“When you look at it across the board and you look at the need for science and you look at some of the policies coming out of some of those agencies, it does look a little bit concerning.”

The Chief Science Advisor Forum, which was convened by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, comprises Chief Science Advisors from across government. Chaired by Gill Jolly, Chief Science Advisor to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the forum receives additional support from co-opted members to ensure it can provide a full range of advice and an extensive range of contacts as needed.

It remains in place.

Two weeks ago RNZ reported a science advocacy group’s complaint that Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins is “asleep at the wheel” and further delaying reforms of the science sector.

In a media release, Save Science Coalition spokesperson Dr Lucy Stewart said there had been ongoing issues in the industry that political parties had accepted, but nothing was being done about them.

The $680 million National Science Challenges, which has been funded for the past 10 years, officially ended on 30 June.

Scientists had been ringing the warning bell about what allowing this funding to end, without having a replacement ready, would mean in terms of loss of expertise.

“The minister is asleep at the wheel,” Stewart said.

“Parties from across the political spectrum agree that there are big issues in the science sector that need to be addressed, but we are seeing ongoing delays and non-response from the minister.”

The industry awaits reports on its structure and funding from the Science System Advisory Group, headed by Sir Peter Gluckman.

These were supposed to have been released by Collins in July and October.

Meanwhile more than 500 roles within the sector have been cut, or proposed to be cut, Dr Stewart said.

Letters to Collins by the group had gone unanswered at the time of the RNZ report.

Source: RNZ