Retorts

Centre Stage for Science?

The passage of the Crown Research Institutes Act recently gave Parliament a rare opportunity to focus on science. The verdict appears unanimous -- science is taking a step towards centre stage.

Whilst it is common for Parliamentarians to agree, agreement is most commonly reached on matters of minor moment. But the move to Crown Research Institutes is no minor issue. It is the largest restructuring of science for decades. What emerged from the debate is that science and technology are now much more widely accepted as pivotal to our future.

For those amongst us who have long held the view that science is under-valued, the debates have been a source of considerable satisfaction. We seized the opportunity that the debate presented, and we received a good response.

Not that the Opposition is entirely uncritical of the new legislation, or of some aspects of the restructuring. There are many small, and some medium-sized, issues which divide the House. But there are no large ones. Dwelling on the downside was a feature of the debate, but not a prominent feature.

Instead there seems to be a genuine heightening of awareness amongst all politicians as to the pivotal role that R&D plays in our quest for prosperity and environmental sustainability. The debates were refreshingly devoid of platitude or patronage. Members seemed keen to embrace the notion that the intellectual horsepower within our institutions is a national asset, however intangible, which must be nurtured and built upon.

There is ample room for cynicism. The cries of "sentiment fundeth not research" will not be far away. Some will comment, poignantly, that the decline in R&D funding and effort since 1980 renders any outbreak of recognition by Parliamentarians both hollow and belated. Fair enough. But equally, our R&D will flourish more readily with political goodwill than without it.

I hope that that goodwill is here to stay. If so, science will receive the wider political support it deserves, reducing its historical reliance on a small minority of politicians to show the flag. We shall see.

Pete Hodgson, Opposition spokesperson for Research, Science and Technology