On Wednesday 27 September, the Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor (OPMCSA) held a workshop co-hosted by UC Research & Innovation in Haere-roa, UCSA.
The workshop aimed to improve engagement between researchers and the public sector, inviting local universities, researchers, CSAs, policy leads, and policy people from Local and Regional Councils to attend.
Speakers included Dame Juliet Gerrard (above) and George Slim from the OPMCSA, former CSA for the Department of Conservation (DoC) Ken Hughey, as well as Professor Emily Parker a newly appointed Departmental Science Advisor for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). UC Professors Tom Wilson and Simon Kingham coordinated panel discussions with their key community partners as CSAs for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ministry of Transport (MoT), respectively. The panel discussions provided suggestions on how to engage with policymakers, supported by examples, including ways for cooperative planning on local issues, such as transport, climate change, and responding to natural disasters. Structured networking at the end of the session aimed to foster better relationships and to ensure ongoing university engagement with policymakers.
If you missed the event and wish to learn more , visit the Research & Innovation page for a conversation between Simon and Tom on their roles as CSAs as part of the video series Ngā Kōrero Kairangahau (Researcher Conversations).
