Research Projects
PublicScienceNZ
Investing in science for New Zealand’s long-term benefit
PublicScienceNZ is a research project that aims to contribute to the limited dialogue concerning the government-funded science system. It hopes that New Zealand will invest its research dollars well and deliver sustainable outcomes for current and future generations.
Methodology
The project is built on an assumption that society needs good science. However, we have found that the government-funded science system has a long way to go before it delivers value to society through the provision of a vibrant and dynamic science community that is committed to working hard to achieve a shared vision for the future. As outlined in Report 9: Science Embraced, the formula for improving well-being through science consists of nine strategic pillars that together build a space where science and society meet. The pillars build sequentially on one another, creating an integrated and transparent framework in what could loosely be called a social contract.
Past initiatives
World Science Festival New York
3 June 2017: World Science Festival 2017 – The Future of Farming: Programming perfect produce (New York)
Wendy attended the World Science Festival 2017 – The Future of Farming: Programming perfect produce in New York where she watched a demonstration of ‘food computers’, which are enclosed, programmable containers that allow you to simulate any environment for growing different crops. Read more about this event on our blog.
During her trip to New York Wendy also visited and interviewed Paul Philpott (see photo), one of ten farmer/entrepreneurs of Square Roots (an initiative bringing fresh produce to the people of New York City).
Resources
Genetic Modification
The aim of the project is to monitor developments in genetic modification and related policy both in New Zealand and overseas to examine whether our regulatory scheme is fit for purpose.
- Report 16 – An Overview of Genetic Modification in New Zealand 1973-2013: The first forty years
- In Focus: Genetically Modified Forages – an update on the current status of genetically modified forages in New Zealand
- In Focus: Transgenic Livestock Programme – an update on the current status of AgResearch’s transgenic livestock programme
- Think Piece 6 – While AgResearch Fiddled (an opinion piece on the strategic direction of Genetic Modification in New Zealand, timed to provide additional information on applications by AgResearch)
- Report Project Genetic Modification: The Review of the Forty-nine Recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification
- Report Project Genetic Modification: The History of Genetic Modification in New Zealand
Pandemic Management
The aim of this project is to learn from past one-off events in order to be more resilient in the future. See PandemicNZ for recent work.
Past Work
In 2006, the Institute completed a report titled Managing the Business Risk of a Pandemic: Lessons from the past and a checklist for the future. This report reviewed past epidemic and pandemic events in order to suggest ways to make New Zealand more resilient.
In 2015, as a result of the 2014/15 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, we worked with Roger Dennis (Christchurch) and Rick Boven (Auckland) to produce the following report: New Zealand Supply Chain Resilience Report (also known as Lessons From the West African Ebola Outbreak in Relation to New Zealand’s Supply Chain Resilience) (2015). This report was sponsored by Z Energy Limited and Foodstuffs (NZ) Limited. See our contributing papers page to read this report.