Royal Society Te Apārangi Explained

Royal Society Te Apārangi
Headquarters:11 Turnbull Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:Jane Harding[1]
Membership:More than 400 Fellows
Type:Independent statutory organisation
Module:
Wikidata:yes
Zoom:16
Marker:school

The Royal Society Te Apārangi (in full, Royal Society of New Zealand) is a not-for-profit body in New Zealand providing funding and policy advice in the fields of sciences and the humanities. These fundings are provided on behalf of the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

History

The Royal Society of New Zealand was founded in 1867 as the New Zealand Institute, a successor to the New Zealand Society, which had been founded by Sir George Grey in 1851. The institute, established by the New Zealand Institute Act 1867, was an apex organisation in science, with the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, and the Westland Naturalists' and Acclimatization Society as constituents. It later included the Otago Institute and other similar organisations. The Colonial Museum (later to become Te Papa), which had been established two years earlier, in 1865, was granted to the New Zealand Institute.

Publishing transactions and proceedings was one of the institute's initial functions.

James Hector was the manager of the institute and Director of the Colonial Museum and Geological Survey from 1867 until his retirement in 1903.[2]

In 1933, the Institute's name was changed to Royal Society of New Zealand, in reference to the Royal Society of London,[3] [4] a move requiring royal assent and a subsequent Act of Parliament.[5] In 2010, the organisation's remit was expanded to include the social sciences and the humanities.[6]

In 2007, Te Apārangi (Māori for 'group of experts') was added to its name, and in 2017, its sesquicentenary, this was shortened to Royal Society Te Apārangi. Its legal name, as defined in legislation, remains Royal Society of New Zealand.[7]

Goals

Constituted under the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997 (amended in 2012), the society exists to:[8]

  1. Foster in the New Zealand community a culture that supports science and technology, including (without limitation): (i) The promotion of public awareness, knowledge, and understanding of science and technology; and (ii) The advancement of science and technology education,
  2. Encourage, promote, and recognise excellence in science and technology,
  3. Provide an infrastructure and other support for the professional needs and development of scientists and technologists,
  4. Provide expert advice on important public issues to the Government and the community,
  5. Do all other lawful things which the Council considers conducive to the advancement and promotion of science and technology in New Zealand.

It is a federation of 49 scientific and technological organisations and several affiliate organisations, and also has individual members.

Activities

The Society's activities include:

The Society administers the Prime Minister's Science Prizes.[15]

As part of its 150th anniversary celebrations, the Society published a series of 150 biographies of women who had contributed to knowledge in New Zealand, called "150 women in 150 words".[16]

Statement on climate change

On 10 July 2008, the Society released a statement on climate change that said, in summary:

The globe is warming because of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Measurements show that greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are well above levels seen for many thousands of years. Further global climate changes are predicted, with impacts expected to become more costly as time progresses. Reducing future impacts of climate change will require substantial reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.[17]

Controversy

See main article: Listener letter on science controversy.

In 2021, a report by a working group appointed by the New Zealand government proposed changes to the school curriculum to ensure indigenous knowledge (or mātauranga Māori) was given the same status as Western science.[18] [19] In response to this report, seven prominent academics co-authored a letter "In Defence of Science" to the current affairs magazine New Zealand Listener. The letter claimed mātauranga Māori falls "short of what can be defined as science itself", and that placing indigenous knowledge on the same level of science would patronise and fail indigenous populations. Instead, they proposed ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to participate in the world's scientific enterprises.[20] The Royal Society's response was to launch an investigation into two of the co-authors of the letter, who happened to be fellows of the Society.[21] This investigation was criticised by several others fellows, who threatened to resign if they were disciplined. University of Auckland literature professor Brian Boyd criticised what he described as the "knee jerk" reaction to the Listener letter and described the view that mātauranga Māori be protected and only transmitted by Māori as contrary to the principles of universities and the Royal Society. Massey University chemistry professor Peter Schwerdtfeger criticised the Royal Society's investigation as shameful and urged them to be open to debate and discussion. New Zealand Free Speech Union spokesperson Jonathan Ayling argued that the pursuit of science depends on free speech and accused the Royal Society of "abandoning its own heritage and tradition of academic freedom."

On the other hand, notable scholars including Professor Carwyn Jones FRSNZ have made clear that free speech, academic freedom, and tikanga māori are not in conflict, and indeed he has argued that "a tikanga-based approach would frame this conversation as a wānanga, a discussion in which participants are contributing to increasing collective understanding. Dialogue, debate, disagreement, challenge and contestation have always been important in te ao Māori, and tikanga provides a framework that protects and supports the free exchange of ideas".[22]

Presidents

The list below shows all presidents of the Royal Society of New Zealand, known as the New Zealand Institute from 1867 to 1933, and since 2017 as the Royal Society Te Apārangi.[23]

Name! scope="col"
DatesField of expertise
1904–05
1906–07
1907–09
1909–11
1911–13
1913–15
1915–16
1916–18 zoology
1918–20
1920–22
1922–24 biology
1924–26
1926–28
1928 geology
1928–29
1929–31
1931–33
1933–35
1935–37
1937–39
1939–41 botany
1941–43
1943–45
1945–47
1947
1947–50
1950–52
1952–54
1954–56 entomology
1956–58 chemistry
1958–60
1960–62
1962–64 ornithology
1964
1964–66 ornithology
1966–70 microbiology
1970–74
1974–77
1977–81
1981–85
1985–89
1989–93
1993–97
1997–2000
2000–2003
2004–2006 biology
2006–2009
2009–2012
2012–2015
2015–2018human geography
2018–2021
Brent Clothier 2021–2024
2024–Current

Fellows

The Academy Executive Committee of the Society from time to time elects as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand any person who in its opinion "has achieved distinction in research or the advancement of science, technology or the humanities."[24] The number of Fellows is limited to such number as is agreed from time to time between the Academy Executive Committee and the Council of the Society. A Fellow is entitled to use, in connection with his or her name, either the letters FRSNZ, which stand for Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, or such other letters or title as is agreed from time to time between the Academy Executive Committee and the Council. The first female fellow, Kathleen Curtis, was elected in 1936.[25] [26]

Chief executive

Di McCarthy was Chief Executive from 2007 to 2014.[27] Andrew Cleland led from 2014 until his retirement in 2021.[28] Cindy Kiro was appointed Chief Executive from 1 March 2021.[29] In July 2021 it was announced that Paul Atkins, Chief Executive of Zealandia, will be taking over from Cindy Kiro on 29 November.

Constituent organisations

The Society has both individual and organisational members. Constituent Organisations help the Society identify and address issues relevant to the research, knowledge and innovation sectors, and link into the research information and activities that the Society undertakes. These constituent organisations are:

Regional Constituent Organisations

Regional Constituent Organisations (branches) are geographical constituents and include:[30]

Affiliate Organisations

The Society includes Affiliate Organisations that cover a diversity of disciplines, including policy, science education and the museum sector:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding commences role as Royal Society te Apārangi President .
  2. Encyclopedia: Royal Society: Foundation . An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. A. H. McLintock. 1966. 30 January 2019. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Government Printer. 978-0-478-18451-8 .
  3. News: Papers Past — Evening Post — 26 May 1933 — A Lead Wanted . Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz . 1933-05-26 . 2014-08-05.
  4. News: Papers Past — Evening Post — 2 June 1933 — What's in a Name? . Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz . 1933-06-02 . 2014-08-05.
  5. News: Papers Past — Evening Post — 18 May 1933 — Prefix "Royal" . Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz . 1933-05-18 . 2014-08-05.
  6. Web site: Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill 210-2 (2010), Private Bill – New Zealand Legislation . Legislation.govt.nz . 2013-06-18.
  7. Web site: Our Name. Royal Society Te Apārangi. 9 July 2017.
  8. Web site: Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997. New Zealand Legislation. 28 October 2023.
  9. Web site: About Rutherford Discovery Fellowships. 2021-11-10. Royal Society Te Apārangi.
  10. Web site: MBIE Science Whitinga Fellowship Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. 2021-01-27. www.mbie.govt.nz.
  11. Web site: Search James Cook Fellowship awards 1996–2017 . 2023-10-27 . Royal Society Te Apārangi.
  12. Web site: MBIE . 23 September 2023 . Valuing our people .
  13. Web site: Charles Fleming Award for Environmental Achievement . Royal Society of New Zealand . 1 November 2012.
  14. Web site: 2023 . Humanities Aronui Medal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230607084352if_/https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/medals-and-awards/humanities-aronui-medal/ . 7 June 2023 . 16 November 2023 . Royal Society Te Aparangi.
  15. Web site: The Prime Minister's Science Prizes . 12 November 2015 . The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes is administered by The Royal Society of New Zealand. [sic].
  16. Web site: 150 Women in 150 Words. 2021-05-01. Royal Society Te Apārangi.
  17. Web site: Climate change statement from the Royal Society of New Zealand. 1 July 2008 . 10 October 2009 . The Royal Society of New Zealand.
  18. Web site: Seven planned changes to strengthen NCEA . NCEA Education . . 16 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220116101355/https://ncea.education.govt.nz/seven-planned-changes-strengthen-ncea. 16 January 2022. live.
  19. Web site: Change 2 – Equal status for mātauranga Māori in NCEA . NCEA Education . . 16 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20210520194031/https://ncea.education.govt.nz/change-2-equal-status-matauranga-maori-ncea. 20 May 2021. live.
  20. [Kendall Clements]
  21. News: Sachdeva . Sam . Royal Society investigation into mātauranga Māori letter sparks academic debate . 13 January 2022 . . 18 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117184418/https://www.newsroom.co.nz/royal-society-investigation-into-matauranga-maori-letter-sparks-academic-debate . 17 November 2021. live.
  22. Web site: Jones . Carwyn . 2024-05-04 . Tikanga Māori and the rights and obligations of free speech . 2024-06-27 . E-Tangata . en-NZ.
  23. Web site: Presidents . Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi . 14 August 2020.
  24. Web site: Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997. New Zealand Council Office. 1997.
  25. Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997, Section 10.
  26. Web site: Our history. 2020-09-20. Royal Society Te Apārangi.
  27. Web site: 2016-06-05. Marlborough scientist Dr Dianne McCarthy becomes Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. 2021-06-02. Stuff. en.
  28. Web site: Poroporoaki farewell to Chief Executive Dr Andrew Cleland. 2021-06-02. Royal Society Te Apārangi.
  29. Web site: October 9, 2020. Professor Cynthia Kiro Appointed As Ahorangi Chief Executive For Royal Society Te Apārangi . 2021-06-02. www.scoop.co.nz.
  30. Web site: Regional Constituent Organisations « Membership « Royal Society of New Zealand . Royalsociety.org.nz . 2013-06-18.
  31. Web site: About the Institute – Auckland Museum New Zealand . . 21 January 2022.
  32. Web site: Nelson Science Society . 2013-06-18.
  33. Web site: Home . Otagoinstitute.otago.ac.nz . 2013-06-18.
  34. Web site: Royal Society of New Zealand (Manawatu Branch) . The Community Archive . 2009-06-02 . 2013-06-18.
  35. Web site: Wellington Philosophical Society . The Community Archive . 2009-06-02 . 2013-06-18.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Royal Society Te Apārangi".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.