Outrage at NZ research cuts

Scientists worried? According to Radio New Zealand there is international outrage over this

Scientists worried over cuts to Niwa research station

Scientists are worried by Niwa's plans to cut three jobs at an internationally important atmospheric research station in Lauder, Central Otago.

Stuff,

6 July, 2012

New Zealand Association of Scientists past president associate professor James Renwick said the cuts would "spell the end of the world-class climate measurement science programme at Lauder".

The research station at Lauder was a key component of several global atmosphere and climate observing programmes. It was one of few such sites in the Southern Hemisphere.

"Reducing the Lauder laboratory to a shell, without the resources to continue the science that has made it internationally famous, is a travesty," Renwick said.

"This proposal will do serious damage to New Zealand's international reputation, involvement in international science and our ability to benefit from it.

Scientific capability of that quality took decades to develop but could be destroyed with the "flick of a bureaucrat's pen".

Former Niwa scientist Dr Greg Bodeker said there was huge international concern the cuts would "severely degrade the quality of the measurement programmes at Lauder".

In the three years since he left, the number of staff at Lauder had dropped from 16 to 11, and now three more scientists were to lose their jobs.

"The feeling is that this is simply not sustainable," Bodeker told Radio NZ.

"These measurements are crucial for understanding how the climate system is evolving. They're also crucial for validating satellite-based instruments," Bodeker said.

Niwa celebrated the 50th anniversary last year of atmospheric research at Lauder which, it said, specialised in measuring ozone, UV levels and greenhouse gases. Clear skies and isolation made Lauder perfect for observing atmospheric chemistry and radiation.

Niwa general manager of research Rob Murdoch said the institute had changed some of the needs and strategies within its atmospheric and climate research.

As a result, it was proposed to cut about 2.8 fulltime equivalent staff positions.

"We're continuing to try and maintain the measurements down in Lauder, as best we can, as they are now," he said.

"Rather than our focus being on the ozone hole and the impacts of ozone on UV and consequences for human health, given that the ozone hole is now beginning to appear to show signs of recovery, we now want to change the focus to look at the impacts of the ozone hole in terms of climate."

A final decision on the staff cuts is expected by the end of the month.