VALUE OF UNIVERSITY RESEARCH UNDERLINED
The broad scope of research projects funded through this year’s investment from the Mardsen Fund demonstrates the value to society from university research, according to the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee.
Professor
Sir David Skegg, who chairs the NZVCC Research Committee,
says the record $66 million investment from the fund this
year supports 99 university research projects which should
deliver a wide range of outcomes, including improving the
health of mothers and their babies and “teaching an old
brain new tricks”.
“It is good to see increased
government support for basic research covered by the Mardsen
Fund. Basic research is about discovery and largely takes
place in universities. Such research is the most likely
source of a breakthrough that will contribute to New
Zealand’s economic growth.
“Further, university
research on social issues is vital in understanding and
alleviating societal impacts such as those caused by
recession and rising unemployment.”
Professor Skegg
said the support for university researchers at an early
stage of their career was another pleasing aspect of the
2009 Marsden round. “The fact that roughly a third of the
projects supported involve young researchers bodes well for
the future of university research in this
country.”
An example of such a “fast start”
research supported by the Marsden Fund was a project
entitled “finding the source of the stem cell stream”
with Dr M A Curtis as principal investigator.
Other
university research funded through Marsden this year covered
areas of environmental concern – “corals in a changing
world” as well as the humanities, “the printers’
web”.
Professor Skegg said universities and the fund
shared objectives on basic research; it should be
investigator-driven, enhance New Zealand’s knowledge base,
contribute to the global advancement of knowledge and
broaden this country’s research skill
base.
ENDS