Thursday 16 August 2018 9:54pm
Professor Juliet Gerrard.
The Prime Minister’s news Chief Science Advisor Juliet Gerrard will visit Otago next Tuesday to hear from University staff and other Dunedin scientists about how to shape her new role.
Professor Gerrard, of the University of Auckland took up the role on 1 July, and will speak at Otago’s the Castle 2 Lecture Theatre at 3pm on Tuesday 21 August.
While she will be presenting several slides outlining the scope of her role and some high level priorities about building trust in expert knowledge, she told the Otago Bulletin Board her real focus is listening to the views of the audience.
“I am travelling around the country visiting as many people as I can and listening to their views about how science, in its broadest sense, can make a difference to New Zealand. I think it is really important to hear from people all over the country, and gather up their thinking to take back to Wellington.”
Professor Gerrard has replaced outgoing Chief Science Advisor and University of Auckland Distinguished Professor Sir Peter Gluckman in the role.
"I think it is really important to hear from people all over the country, and gather up their thinking to take back to Wellington."
A Professor of Biochemistry at Auckland, Professor Gerrard’s research interests cut across biochemistry, health, agriculture, food science and biomaterial design. She has worked with Fonterra on improving its dairy products and is best known for having headed the prestigious grant-giving body, the Marsden Fund.
During her Otago visit she will also meet with some of our early career researchers from the O-zone group, and senior research leaders.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Professor Richard Blaikie says it is wonderful that Professor Gerrard wants to come and connect with people individually.
Professor Gerrard hopes to take ideas from her visit, and also a “shared understanding of how the academic community can best interface with policy makers to improve decision making and making sure it is evidence-based”.
Tuesday’s forum is open to the public and all are welcome.
Come along:
An open forum by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Professor Juliet Gerrard
Tue 21 Aug, 3pm
Castle 2 Lecture Theatre