Nā Te Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive update
Tēnā koutou,
Last month I reflected on the importance of our international relationships. In this update I’m delighted to draw attention to a few examples of the tremendous work we are doing here at home.
Our Early Career Researcher (ECR) Forum was formally established and launched in 2016 with the purpose of representing the national voice of Aotearoa New Zealand’s ECR community and celebrate their achievements and contributions in the fields of physical, biological, and social sciences, as well as technology and the humanities.
The ECR Forum Committee met recently for a two-day strategy workshop to look ahead at what the Forum would like to achieve in coming years. It was wonderful to have the Committee in our whare for their meeting and to be able to chat informally during the two days. View more on their view of the future.
The Falling Walls Lab is an opportunity for the next generation of students and early-career professionals to pitch, in three minutes, their innovation idea and compete to win a trip to Falling Walls Lab Berlin. We had the privilege of hosting the 19 participants for the 2024 event at the Society this month, and to hear about their innovations. See more on top three pitches and the 2024 winner.
Established in 1874 as the Philosophical Institute, the Hawke’s Bay Branch of the Royal Society Te Apārangi celebrated its 150th anniversary on 13/14 September. A fabulous milestone! It was a pleasure to attend some of the functions and to celebrate with our branch colleagues and friends in Napier and Havelock North over the weekend. Again, view more on this special occasion.
The Speaker’s Science Forum was established in 2003 with the aim of presenting cutting-edge research to MPs and decision-makers in a non-partisan setting, to inform the issues being addressed in Parliament. The events are held in the Grand Hall of Parliament and this month the topic was The future of energy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Professor Alan Brent, inaugural Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, spoke about Investing in our just energy transition: Implications across different scales, and Dr Isabelle Chambefort, Energy Futures Leader at GNS Science, Te Pū Ao, presented on Superhot geothermal: A baseload energy solution for New Zealand. Both were excellent presentations on a highly topical subject, attracting a large number of interesting questions from Members of Parliament, and only curtailed by the ringing of the division bell!
I hope you enjoy this month’s LINK.
Ngā mihi nui,
Paul Atkins
Chief Executive