“Cutting humanities and social sciences from the Marsden Fund jeopardises academic research in public health, nursing, law, education, public policy and Māori studies,” Labour’s Research, Science and Innovation spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell said.
“We want to keep talented people here, who contribute to the growth of New Zealand’s knowledge base and economy. These cuts leave academics and researchers with fewer options, and making them more likely to join the thousands of people leaving the country to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
“Critical thinkers are essential to advancing our economy, protecting our environment, and building our cultural identity.
“They look into tricky areas in the legal system, do business research and investigate areas where harm is being caused. These cuts could leave New Zealand with gaps in important knowledge areas.
“For example, previous Marsden studies that would no longer go ahead under the new criteria includes looking into alcohol advertising on social media and how rape trials can re-traumatise complainants.
“Scrapping the Marsden Fund follows other cost cutting by the Government which has already seen more than 500 jobs lost in the public science sector.
“New Zealand only spends half the OECD average on science, research, and development. It’s time the Government saw research as a priority,” Dr Deborah Russell said.
Whether Kauri trees benefit from having whale songs sung to them, or the university feline population
is improved by being given non-colonialist names, and the designer dress business flourishes with ruffled frocks not causing ruffles with hate-speech sociologists, or exceedingly big-bucked poetry helps homeless and hungry Pacifica people, are valid debatable points.
We already know that rape trials re- traumatise women. It’s a trauma that lingers, regardless of trials. We already know that alcohol advertisements are successful, or the alcohol industry wouldn’t be running them. We already know that kids run better with adequate footwear and full bellies. We already know that bad things happen to good people, and always have. Much of this is basic commonsense, and not necessarily the domain of science or the purpose of science funding.
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