Statement on funding cuts to New Zealand Marsden Fund – Humanities and Social Science Research
While it is not usual practice for ACOLA or the Australian Learned Academies to comment on the policy and funding decisions of other nations, we note with great concern, last week’s decision by the New Zealand Government to cease funding humanities and social sciences research through the Marsden Fund, in order to refocus research funding on “core science”.
Nations that prosper have research and education systems that grow the pool of innovative and creative problem solvers, and which have the capacity to develop, apply and benefit from cutting-edge knowledge and evidence, regardless of disciplinary origins. Globally, there is recognition that addressing key economic, societal and global challenges involves harnessing deep disciplinary expertise from many areas working together towards shared outcomes or missions.
The pressing problems of our time – climate change and biodiversity crises; managing the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence; the worsening crisis of misinformation and disinformation; managing geo-political tensions – require a skilled and adaptive workforce, and a robust multi-disciplinary sovereign research capability.
As is clear in Australia’s 2024 National Science and Research Priorities, our national challenges are complex and intertwined. Solutions grounded in research across a broad range of disciplines are key to addressing those challenges and to adapting to rapidly changing contexts.
Social and cultural research must go hand-in-hand with scientific and technological research to realise societal and economic benefits; there are no two-ways about it.
Dr Katherine Woodthorpe, Chair ACOLA and President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering
Professor Stephen Garton, President of the Australian Academy of Humanities
Professor Richard Holden, President of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Professor Chennupati Jagadish, President of the Australian Academy of Science
Professor Louise Baur, President of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
