New Zealand Association of Scientists

The history of the Association is documented in a sequence of articles in the NZ Science Review (NZSR) written by Geoff Gregory. In addition, Gregory wrote a condensed version of these articles for the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Gregory, educated at Oxford, spent his career in information sciences in the N.Z. science sector both with the DSIR and the New Zealand Geological Survey. He edited the NZSR from 1974 to 1984. The first installment of the NZAS history runs from 1941 until 1954. The Association's first President was W.B. (Bill) Sutch, an economist, historian, writer, public servant, and public intellectual. Gregory's article suggests the initial impetus for the Association lay mainly with Sutch. Despite this, Sutch's involvement with the Association was brief as he was called up for military service. Sutch would later be charged and acquitted of trying to pass New Zealand Government information to the Soviet Union. In that same year, Earnest Marsden became Patron of the Association. The Association produced strong responses to the science reforms in New Zealand in the early 1990s which saw the formation of the Crown Research Institutes. It formed the subject of the 1993 conference. == New Zealand Science Review ==

The Association publishes a peer reviewed journal the New Zealand Science Review (NZSR), which is "a forum for the exchange of views on science and science policy issues". Right at the initial formation of the New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers it was determined that a journal was required. In 2019 and 2020 two special issues of the journal were published on the topic of Mātauranga Māori. This set of four issues was headed with a foreword by Drs Ocean Mercier and Anne-Marie Jackson. In 2022 the decision was made to move to an e-Journal format as well as an editorial board. The revised scope for the Journal states that it "provides a forum for the discussion of issues of relevance to science in Aotearoa New Zealand in the past, present and future". Among the suitable topics identified include science strategy/policy, Aotearoa New Zealand relevance of major advances, Māori science/research, science planning, freedom of information, record of govt science-relevant strategies, history of science, engagement between science and society etc. The initial editorial board comprised Craig Stevens, Troy Baisden, Lucy Stewart, Simon Hills, Ben Dickson, Tara McAllister, and Alexis Marshall. == Awards ==

The Association awards four medals annually to celebrate aspects of science that has had significant value for New Zealand: • Marsden Medal for a lifetime of outstanding service to the cause or profession of science. • Hill Tinsley Medal (renamed in 2016, previously the Research medal) for outstanding fundamental or applied research in the physical, natural or social sciences published by a scientist or scientists within 15 years of their PhD. • Shorland Medal for recognition of major and continued contribution to basic or applied research that has added significantly to scientific understanding or resulted in significant benefits to society. • Cranwell Medal (formerly known as the Science Communicator Medal) made to a practising scientist for excellence in communicating science to the general public in any area of science or technology. == Conferences ==

The Association organised a number of landmark conferences, typically around a topical theme. • 1969 – The findings of the National Development Conference (NDC). • 2016 – 75th Anniversary Conference. • 2017 – Beyond the usual suspects – science outside the institutes. • 2018 – New Zealand perspectives at the interface of science and policy • 2021 – Reshaping New Zealand's research system: finding solutions. == Notable past presidents ==

The normal term for a President under the Association's rules is two years. In 2017, a co-presidency option was instituted. In 2025 the co-presidency is held by Lucy Stewart and Troy Baisden. • Bill Sutch, New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers • H.B. (Barry) Fell, Zoologist • Brian Shorland, organic chemist • Joan Mattingley (Cameron), clinical chemist • David Penny, biologist • Kathryn McGrath, chemist • Janet Grieve, biological oceanographer • James Renwick, climate scientist • Shaun Hendy, physicist • Nicola Gaston, chemist == References ==