Time to get smarter with more science driving technology

This dream of course will need to be based in general on science and in particular on chemistry.

As one of only 10 countries worldwide launching space satellites, New Zealand is to establish a second launch site near Christchurch - a welcome boost for this increasingly important industry - offering a heady mix of advanced technology and most importantly, new skills.

The same day, research by science media personality ‘Nanogirl’ revealed an increasing number of teachers are choosing not to teach science in our primary and secondary schools. Skilled teacher shortages compound the problem.

Reportedly, only 20 percent of children in their final year or primary and intermediate education reach the expected level of the science curriculum.

It is frustrating to try and identify the number of science graduates from New Zealand universities in recent years. There are numerous vacancies for scientists being advertised and employers wishing to sponsor technically qualified migrants complain of increasing delays when applying under the Long Term Skill Shortage category.

Our inability to provide our own technologists to sustain the transition to a modern economy is highlighted in these topical examples: - New Zealand’s latest Cleaner Energy initiative - Our climate change commitments and aspirations that will require world-class scientists enabling and facilitating the transition from fossil fuels to acceptable, renewable alternatives.

Scientists warn our drive towards natural, cleaner and renewable energy will

We need to get smarter with more science driving technology

Recent news items reflect the internal conflict concerning our desire to become a technologically advanced society, offering cutting-edge solutions that are beyond mere mortals elsewhere

always be vulnerable to shortages of rain and wind.

That means we must be much smarter at ensuring cleaner energy improvements are in place, before we introduce the bans.

For example, our largest power station at Huntly is switching from burning poor quality, imported coal to natural gas.

The impromptu ban on new gas exploration has resulted in the diversion of export gas to the Huntly power station, keeping the lights on in our major city, while hopefully fully compensating for the lost foreign exchange.

Either way, electricity consumers continue to pay more.

There was welcome news last month of a major upgrade for the South Dunedin Hillside Workshop and the additional jobs involved. It appears a major activity will be producing a much-needed 1,900 wagons to enable rail to replace the fossil fuelled trains, to progressively replace the fossil fuelled trucks congesting our roads.

Media reports 400 wagons will be imported, but appear unable to confirm that the remaining 1,500 wagons will comprise the assembly of imported kitsets, not the manufacture of wagons – perhaps signalling a return of our expensive, unlamented local vehicle assembly experience?

As we drift between the leading-edge technology occurring in our agricultural sector and our fledgling space enterprise, finding world class solutions to pressing issues such as climate change, while also diversifying and growing our export earnings, will require scientists.

Innovation begins in the classroom and laboratories, thanks to scientists and their work to address an expanding list of challenges which will establish our quality of life for generations to come.

Chemists are critical to pharmaceuticals and healthcare (think pandemics), agriscience, consumer products and particularly educating their successors. There is presently not the traditional career development where scientists move freely between industry and government research, or into teaching for our common benefit.

Cutting off qualified migrants only exacerbates our difficulty in supplying the talent New Zealand desperately needs.

As we adjust to the Covid environment, let’s optimise the apprentice/ trainee subsidies available, to encourage employers to hire the future scientists and chemists who will help deliver that technologically advanced society we seek.

Barry Dyer is chief executive of Responsible Care NZ.

The views expressed here may not necessarily be the views of Responsible Care NZ.

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