The new Science Board, under the relatively new Ministry of Science and Innovation, is to drivebroader NZ-oriented research platforms under what is to be a less competitive funding model.
A greater degree of science and institute bulk funding (even if this isn't the politicallycorrect term) will put a greater emphasis on the Science Board to make sure deliverables aredelivered.
Announced early in the New Year, while New Zealand's on holiday, the Science Board is to bechaired by Prof. Sir David Skegg, the vice-chancellor of Otago University. Dunedin based Skegg hasan international reputation for scientific research, and was awarded the Sir Charles Hercus Medal bythe Royal Society of NZ.
His fellow board members are:
Prof Richard Blaikie - Christchurch, director of the MacDiarmid Institute forAdvanced Materials and Nanotechnology, works at Canterbury Unversity
Denise Church - Wellington, leadership and strategy consulting services acrossthe public sector, member of the FRST board
Prof Peter Hunter - Auckland, director of the Bioengineering Insitute atAuckland University. Chair of the Marsden Fund Council
Wendy Nelson - Wellington, principal scientist at NIWA
Dr William Rolleston - South Canterbury, CEO of South Pacific Sera, chair ofMSI's Innovation Board
Prof Charles Royal - Auckland, chair of indigenous development in the faculty ofarts at Auckland University.
Prof Warren Tate - Dunedin, associate dean research (health science division) atOtago University
Three new members were also announced for the Marsden Fund Council, the allocation bodyresponsible for investment in what are often considered more blue sky or basic research.
They are:
Prof Kurt Krause - Dunedin, convenor of the Biomedical panel, head of OtagoUniversity's Dept. of Biochemistry, director of the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases
Prof Linda Smith - Hamilton, convenor of Social Sciences panel, WaikatoUniversity, pro vice-chancellor Maori
Prof David Williams - Auckland, convenor of the physics, chemistry andbiochemistry panel, professor of Electrochemistry at Auckland University