$56 million for researchers in 20th year of the Marsden Fund

4 November 2014

56 million awarded to researchers in the 20th year of the Marsden Fund

A total of 101 research projects have been allocated $55.7 million (excl.GST) of funding in this year’s Marsden Fund grants, which support New Zealand’s best investigator-initiated research in the areas of science, engineering, maths, social sciences and the humanities.

Marsden Fund Council chair, Professor Juliet Gerrard, says the Fund encourages New Zealand’s most talented researchers to explore their most exciting ideas. The Fund is administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand on behalf of the government.

Highlights from the 2014 funding round include projects that will investigate the use of robotics as therapy for cerebral palsy; a history of surveillance in New Zealand; using Google balloons to probe weather systems; why heart failure is common in diabetics; and Māori legal traditions.

Professor Gerrard says Marsden funding has grown by 1000% from $5 million awarded in its first funding round twenty years ago.

“The Fund continues to be extremely popular with New Zealand researchers. Last year we had a record number of preliminary proposals, 1157, and this year that was surpassed by 65, with the fund receiving 1222 applications, mostly from researchers at New Zealand universities, Crown Research Institutes and independent research organisations.”

A subset of 248 proposals progressed to a second round, with 101 selected for funding for three years. The overall success rate was 8.3%.

Since 2001 there have been two types of grants: Standard and Fast-Start, the latter added to support outstanding researchers early in their careers. More than a third of the awards this year (37) are Marsden Fast-Starts, says Professor Gerrard.

“The Fast-Start scheme has been a hugely successful mechanism to enable emerging researchers to develop their own interests in the research community. Many Fast-Start recipients have gone on to head their own groups and make outstanding discoveries.

“In addition, we have seen strong career progression for PhD and post-doctoral researchers who have been funded through the Standard grants.”

Professor Gerrard says that it is especially pleasing to note that the number of women as Principal Investigators of successful proposals rose from 32% last year to 39% this year. Women and MāoriPrincipal Investigators had higher success rates in the second round.

“Thirty five percent of Principal Investigators in the preliminary proposals were women. In the successful projects, 39% of Principal Investigators were women. Māori Principal Investigations made up 3.3% in the preliminary proposals and 5.2% in the successful proposals.”

Professor Gerrard noted that all proposals were judged by ten subject-area panels, informed by international referees, and chosen purely on merit.

With the Marsden Fund celebrating its 20th anniversary, Professor Gerrard says it has been an ideal opportunity to reflect on how it has made a difference to New Zealand.

“Many of New Zealand’s very best researchers have received Marsden funding in their career; people like Distinguished Professor Margaret Brimble, Professor Jeff Tallon, Professor Peter Hunter and the late Sir Paul Callaghan.

“The Marsden fund not only supports the development of research talent but also uncovers findings that can lead to whole new areas of research.

“Our 20th anniversary celebrations have been a good chance to reflect on basic research leading to developments that make a difference in areas you might never expect,” Professor Gerrard says.

For example, Marsden research to study how a micro-organism uses hydrogen as fuel, has led to new research with implications for greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farming.

Another example is a Marsden project that studied the effects of local winds, which has led to new research to model areas for viticulture as the climate changes.

“By supporting New Zealand researchers to carry out fundamental research which they are passionate about, the Marsden Fund is helping to build a stronger nation, both economically and socially. The Marsden Fund is an investment in the long term success of New Zealand.”

For more information:
• Background on researchers
• Marsden Fund results 2014 (Excel)

About the Marsden Fund
The Marsden Fund supports excellence in leading-edge research in New Zealand. Projects are selected annually in a rigorous process by ten panels who are guided by the opinions of world-leading, international researchers. Funding is usually spread over three years for each grant.

There are two types of grants: Fast-Start grants worth $300K over three years for early career researchers and Standard grants that can be worth up to $850K for three years. All budget values are GST exclusive. Grants pay for salaries, student and postdoctoral scholarships, and consumables.

The Marsden Fund is contestable, is for investigator-driven research projects, and is not subject to government priorities. It is administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand and funded by the New Zealand Government.

The Fund is named after physicist Sir Ernest Marsden. It was established by the government in 1994.

The Marsden Fund is regarded as a hallmark of excellence, allowing New Zealand’s best researchers to explore their ideas.

About the Royal Society of New Zealand
The Royal Society of New Zealand promotes science, technology and humanities in schools, in industry and in society. It administers funds for research, publishes peer-reviewed journals, offers advice to government, and fosters international scientific contact and co-operation. www.royalsociety.org.nz

ENDS

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