Newsmaker

Soil scientist sees opportunities

New Royal Society Te Aparangi president-elect Brent Clothier is the first person with an agricultural science background appointed to the role since the 1980s. He spoke to

Colin Williscroft.

WITH more That year, in setting its budget their work is now acknowledged than 40 years’ for the next six years, the major as critical to the country’s future. experience and buyer of public good science “We’ve gone from the outhouse 300 published at the time, the Foundation for to the penthouse,” he says. papers to his Research, Science and Technology, In his role of Royal Society name Dr Brent Clothier has seen shifted funding to what were seen president Clothier will take over a lot of change in New Zealand as the more glamorous sectors from Professor Wendy Larner in science and research circles – not of information and computer July next year at the end of her all of it good. technology, innovative industries three-year term. He has already

Today there might be shortages and biotechnology. joined the society’s council as of skilled scientists in many Funding for what was viewed as president-elect. disciplines including soil and sunset or old economy research In announcing his appointment water science, his own area of like agriculture was cut, with the society said it was thrilled he expertise, but Clothier says the support for soil science falling had chosen to do so, pointing opportunities are increasing, it’s from $6 million to $3m with $7m to his work advancing the just a matter of attracting people lost across the six CRIs doing soil understanding of natural assets to areas that offer exciting and and land use science. that deliver ecosystem services to stable futures. grow crops and enable informed

Part of that is down to the land-use decisions. growing awareness of primary industries’ importance to NZ, We’ve gone from That’s involved in finding a better understanding of how water backed up by Government policies the outhouse to the and chemicals move through soil, designed to protect the country’s soil and water resources. penthouse. along with inventing new devices to monitor that.

The challenge now is to get He has worked with colleagues people studying subjects that will enable them to build on Brent Clothier to develop a way to directly measure water use by trees and work already done, with a view to Royal Society vines that has helped improve optimising future opportunities water management in water-short and to do that there needs to be regions globally. a greater awareness of the variety In response, Clothier was asked All that work has been of options available for long and to produce a confidential report to appreciated and recognised rewarding careers. find out what had gone wrong and internationally.

There are huge opportunities find solutions to ensure the future Late last year he was the first for universities to get young of research that was increasingly New Zealander to be elected as people interested in studying under threat. an Academician in the Division subjects related to land use and The report suggested rather of Agriculture of the Chinese land use change, including soil than competing against each Academy of Engineering and science and plant biology. other CRIs should work together holds adjunct professorships in

“But they need to explain where to maintain and manage soil and NZ, Australia and Spain. those opportunities are and then land-use research. A Fellow of Royal Society Te sell how they can help them get It was a change in mindset but Aparangi since 1994, Clothier there.” one that over time has given the is an elected member of three

Clothier, principal scientist at institutes strength. major bodies in the United Plant and Food Research, says Just like farmers in the 1980s States (the Soil Science Society of land use sciences like soil science had to learn how to exist without America, the American Agronomy might offer plenty of attractive subsidies the institutes have Society and the American job paths today but less than 20 weaned themselves off complete Geophysical Union) and last year years ago it was anything but, reliance on central government was recognised for his lifetime though lessons learned from the funding, now also working for a achievement at the Science NZ darkest times have, in the end, variety of other organisations, national awards at Parliament for given strength to Crown research including commercial entities his contribution to advancing NZ’s institutes like Plant and Food, wanting to tap into their expertise. environmental well-being. AgResearch and Landcare. That’s fostered a degree of When he takes over as president

In 2003 the government of the confidence and pride in their work it will be 40 years since Dr Ted day halved funding for soil and and how they do it. Times have Bollard started as the society’s land-related sciences. changed so much since then that president. Bollard, director of

ON THE JOB: Brent Clothier has spent 40 years turning science into practical solutions.

the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research’s plant diseases division, the predecessor of Plant and Food Research, was the last person with an agricultural science background to hold the president’s role.

Based in Palmerston North, Clothier, the first CRI scientist appointed Royal Society president, says the organisation has made big strides in making itself increasingly relevant to the communities it serves, having broadened its focus to include arts and social sciences.

That has allowed it to better connect with the communities that on a practical level use the science it produces, in farming terms the decision-makers who work on the land rather than just fellow scientists.

It’s an independent provider of advice to the community and government while facilitating discussion on subjects like genetic modification, ocean acidification and climate change.

It runs the Science Media Centre, which provides expert comments to journalists writing stories on the latest scientific developments, helping create a more informed community.

He’s looking forward to the new role though it will be challenging.

“I’ve got big shoes to fill and that is very motivating for me,” he said.