National strategy for science in society welcomed

Liggins Institute Director Professor Wayne Cutfield has commended today’s launch of a national strategic plan for science in society.

The plan, A Nation of Curious Minds: He Whenua Hihiri I te Mahara – is the blueprint for the Science in Society Project and has been developed jointly by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Ministry of Education with close involvement from the office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor. It responds to the science and society challenge for government considered by the National Science Challenge Panel to be central to the success of all the Challenges.

In today’s joint media statement Minister of Science and Innovation Hon. Steven Joyce said “Science, and the knowledge and innovation that flow from it, plays a critical role in creating and defining our future. As many New Zealanders as possible should be able to respond to the challenges and opportunities science presents, and have the confidence to take part in debates involving science and technology.”

Hon. Hekia Parata, Minister of Education, said “If we are serious about ensuring a prosperous future for every New Zealander, we must ensure all our young people have the best possible opportunity to achieve educational success.

“Lifting engagement and achievement in science education is absolutely vital and the education profession must prepare all New Zealanders to be participants, and leaders, in the 21st century.”

Commenting on the plan Professor Cutfield said the Liggins Institute had long recognised the importance of engagement between scientists and the community they worked in, developing public communication activities alongside its research programmes.

“Science and technology are fundamental to every-day life in the 21st century; it is essential we build a scientifically literate society equipped to make informed decisions at personal, community and national levels,” he said.

He sees active engagement between the science and education sectors as key to enhancing science literacy throughout the community. “Creating better opportunities for young people, schools and teachers to participate in the processes of science is likely to have greater benefits than didactic ‘top-down’ approaches. Raising scientific understanding and performance of our young people will empower them to be drivers and advocates for change,” he said.

The effectiveness of this approach has been demonstrated in the Institute’s well-established LENScience (Liggins Education Network for Science) Programme. The multi-faceted programme is focused on building learning partnerships between school and science communities. The programme has been credited with raising participation in science in communities where advanced science courses and careers might otherwise have been considered too hard or inaccessible. In addition follow-up studies have shown that increased science, and consequently health, literacy has influenced family decision-making with respect to diet and life-style choices. LENScience website: http://www.lenscience.auckland.ac.nz

LENScience Programme Director Jacquie Bay was a member of the Science in Society reference group which contributed to the plan’s development.

“We, at the Liggins Institute, look forward to on-going involvement with the Science in Society Project as it develops,” said Professor Cutfield.

Media statement Hon. Steven Joyce, Hon. Hekia Parata
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/kiwi-curiosity-heart-science-engagement

Media release: Office of the Prime Minister’s Science Advisor
http://www.pmcsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Science-in-Society-Plan.pdf

A Nation of Curious Minds: He Whenua Hihiri I te Mahara is available at: http://www.msi.govt.nz/update-me/major-projects/science-and-society-project/