Scientists, take heart

It is clear that the current administration understands the best way to grow a developed economy is through investment in science and technology.

By focusing on increasing private sector investment in R&D, the government acknowledges that while New Zealand’s public sector R&D investment is low, our private sector investment is even lower when compared with the OECD average. For a country whose prosperity is underpinned by world-leading science and technology, this is something that must change.

I hope that a significant number of New Zealand companies, buoyed by the recovery of the world economy, think seriously about applying for some of this new funding and that it helps them develop new and innovative products and services to sell to the world.

I also hope the government’s effort to implement the recommendations of the Crown Research Institute Taskforce enables the CRIs to better deliver on national priorities and respond better to the needs of industry and business.

At IRL we put a considerable emphasis on encouraging our scientists to familiarise themselves with the practices and principles of business to enable them to apply their knowledge in a commercial context.

Having said this, it is important to note that science excellence is the foundation of everything we do. The work of Prime Minister’s Science Prize winners Drs Bob Buckley and Jeff Tallon is a great example of how science for its own sake should not be shied away from.

It was academic curiosity more than 20 years ago that piqued the pair’s interest in high temperature superconductivity, a phenomenon whereby some materials conduct electricity without resistance.

Today they are two of the world’s foremost experts in what is predicted to be a multibillion-dollar industry in coming decades and, thanks largely to their efforts, New Zealand is positioned to capture a significant part of it. Their story, from initial blue-skies research to the emergence of a new global industry, is told on page 12.

Another of our researchers who found commercial success is Dr Mark Poletti who, after publishing several papers in high-profile, peer reviewed journals, designed an electronic sound reproduction system that can transform a venue with less-than-perfect acoustics into a world-class concert hall. The system was eventually licensed to US-based Meyer Sound, who sold it to venues around the world.

Again, it was Dr Poletti’s academic curiosity that gave him a fundamental understanding of the science of assisted reverberation, and by becoming a leader in his field he became well-placed to apply his knowledge in a commercial context.

Dr Poletti’s thirst for knowledge is not limited to these achievements. As a keen guitarist he even designed his own electronic guitar effects and amplifier. Read his story on page 6.

IRL’s passion for new knowledge has helped cement a reputation as a valuable repository of scientific expertise that companies have sought out.

Leading New Zealand marine electronics company Electronic Navigation Ltd is a good example: after utilising IRL’s services to develop a unique seafloor mapping system called the Wide Angle Sonar Seafloor Profiler ten years ago, it is again looking to utilise IRL’s research capabilities (see page 8).

Another important string to the IRL bow is the work of the Measurements Standards Laboratory (MSL^[?]), which ensures New Zealand's units of measurement are consistent with the international system of units. MSL plays a key role in ensuring international recognition of New Zealand’s National Measurement System, which is essential for New Zealand’s ongoing international trade.

A problem within measurement standards relates to the kilogram, which is measured against a prototype cylinder of platinum-iridium alloy kept in a vault in Paris. Since the prototype kilogram was declared as the standard for this weight in 1889, it is thought it may have picked up infinitesimal amounts of mass during cleaning and will eventually degrade and lose mass. To find out how MSL scientists are collaborating with peers around the world to find a new, more reliable definition for the kilogram, turn to page 14.

From providing accurate, standardised measurements to improving the experience of discerning concert goers, science and technology have a profound effect on our lives and our standard of living. I look forward to seeing how the new funding for science helps New Zealand businesses to grow, and the positive affects these changes will have on the living standards of New Zealanders.

Shaun Coffey
Chief Executive