In June 2009, Gluckman was appointed as the first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. This appointment was extended twice to end in June 2018. During this time, Gluckman made national and international contributions to
science advice,
science policy, and
science diplomacy. He established departmental science advisory roles in major departments, and this group has been increasingly used by Government as a formal process of advice on matters relating to evidence and policy. He was given the additional appointment of Special Science Envoy for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2010 to assist his role in science diplomacy. Gluckman has explored extensively the principles of science advice through a blog, lectures, and in the scientific press. In 2012 he established and chaired the first formalised regional network of chief science advisors and equivalents of the
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. He also established the Small Advanced Economies Initiative (SAEI) as a mechanism to bring together policy makers from small, advanced countries where science and innovation are core tools of development, to work collaboratively on shared issues and ideas. In 2013 he was requested by the International Council for Science (ICSU; now the International Science Council) to consider the development of an international network of science advisors. This led Gluckman to host and chair the inaugural Science Advice to Governments Conference, convened by the International Council for Science, in August 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. It was the first global meeting of high-level science advisors, academies, and academics. In June 2018, Gluckman stepped down from his role as the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, and was replaced by
Juliet Gerrard. On 5 July he was elected to the position of president-elect of the
International Science Council at its inaugural meeting in Paris. In March 2020, Gluckman became the director of the newly established Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, a
University of Auckland Faculty of Arts research centre. In November 2022, Gluckman criticised the
National Party leader
Christopher Luxon's proposed Young Offender Military Academies, citing the failure of the previous
Fifth National Government's
boot camp programme for young offenders. As Chief Science Adviser, Gluckman had published a report in 2018 where he concluded that boot camps and other "
scared straight" programmes did not work and instead increased crimes. Instead of boot camps, Gluckman advocated addressing juvenile delinquency and abuse through early intervention programmes, targeted mental health services, and complimentary services focusing on the
Māori and
Pasifika communities. ==Honours and awards==