Distinguished medical researcher Sir Peter Gluckman (left)
and Genetics Otago director Dr Peter Dearden discuss
research interests at the University of Otago yesterday.
Photo by Linda Robertson.
The Prime Minister's chief science adviser, Sir Peter
Gluckman, says he has encountered "remarkable goodwill" from
the country's scientific community and the business world
during his first five weeks in the job.
Sir Peter, who was visiting Dunedin yesterday, said he had
also found other people, including Government ministers,
ready to engage positively.
"It shows that this role has been urgently needed in New
Zealand and my challenge is to provide that," he said in an
interview.
Sir Peter, a distinguished Auckland-based medical researcher,
gave a talk entitled Evolution and Medicine last night at a
function at Otago University.
The Genetics Otago research network was launched at the
function.
Genetics Otago director Dr Peter Dearden said the research
network aimed to establish itself as New Zealand's leading
centre for advanced genetics research and teaching.
Dr Dearden is an award-winning biochemist who is
collaborating with Sir Peter in basic research involving
developmental biology.
Sir Peter's appointment as chief science adviser was a
positive move for New Zealand science, he said.
Sir Peter said in an interview establishing Genetics Otago
was "a good step towards New Zealand as a whole improving its
research infrastructure".
"The research infrastructure of New Zealand, particularly in
the biological sciences, has not received adequate investment
for a long time."
Sir Peter said that his job was "to ask the hard questions".
"We need to think very clearly about how we can get the
maximum from our research."
"Science has to be primarily focused on outputs that will
transform New Zealand."
His advisory role was part-time and it was important he
continued to be an active researcher.
Sir Peter said that given his new advisory role, he was no
longer carrying out science administrative work and no longer
preparing science grant applications.
"I'm feeling like a new boy," he joked.
"I'm getting more science done than I've done in a long
time."
john.gibb@odt.co.nz
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