Retorts

Dialogue Needed

I thought you presented a convincing case [Gigo, March] that the past achievements of scientists in New Zealand have received scant recognition. However, you sounded less convincing when you were talking about past achievements of technologists and engineers within New Zealand.

This, to me, highlighted a large and important communication gap in New Zealand between scientists on the one hand and technologists and engineers on the other. Not only is there verbally little communication across that gap at the level of individuals, but also the professional bodies and societies do not inter-relate enough in my view.

There needs to be an `umbrella body' established in New Zealand at the professional society level that will be representative of all aspects of science, technology and engineering (and probably the social sciences as well). Although some proposals have been suggested for this to happen, they currently appear to have stopped or at least progress is very slow.

In my opinion, we greatly need more dialogue between scientists, engineers and technologists for the mutual benefit of all.

J. P. Blakely, Centre for Advanced Engineering, University of Canterbury