Lucy Stewart: New Zealand Association of Scientists Co-President on the changes to the science sector

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

There’s scepticism over the Government's major changes to the science sector.

Seven crown research institutes be merged into three public research organisations and another is also being created to focus on AI and advanced technology.

Callaghan Innovation will close, with 355 jobs impacted.

The moves follow a months-long review of the science sector led by Sir Peter Gluckman.

New Zealand Association of Scientists Co-President Lucy Stewart told Francesca Rudkin that the science sector has been desperately underfunded for 30 or 40 years, which is emphasised in the report.

She says the idea they’re going to have champagne science on a beer budget just by merging some organisations is not particularly realistic.

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