Royal Society of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ), known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, and the Otago Institute. These societies often did not have the means to publish the papers that were presented to them or maintain a written record of their activities. The New Zealand Institute was set up to remedy this through the publication of a single volume of transactions and proceedings on their behalf.
Currently constituted under the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997, the RSNZ exists:
It is a federation of 49 constituent scientific and technological organisations, and also several affiliate organisations, and it has individual members.
The RSNZ's activities encompass:
The New Zealand Association of Scientists
is similar body, constituted as a independent non-profit incorporated society and registered charity, rather than being constituted by an Act of Parliament
.
Past presidents include:
Currently constituted under the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997, the RSNZ exists:
- To foster in the New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
community a culture that supports science and technology, including (without limitation) The promotion of public awareness, knowledge, and understanding of science and technology; and The advancement of science and technology education, - To encourage, promote, and recognise excellence in science and technology,
- To provide an infrastructure and other support for the professional needs and development of scientists and technologists,
- To provide expert advice on important public issues to the Government and the community,
- To do all other lawful things which the Council considers conducive to the advancement and promotion of science and technology in New Zealand.
It is a federation of 49 constituent scientific and technological organisations, and also several affiliate organisations, and it has individual members.
The RSNZ's activities encompass:
- Science Funding As a non-political funding distribution agency for government funding, particularly in science research and science education
- Publishing The RSNZ publishes such peer-reviewed journals as NZ Journal of Botany and NZ Journal of Zoology
- Meetings and Seminars Most local branches and constituent scientific and technological organisations run seminar series of some descriptions, and the RSNZ promotes these and coordinates touring international lecturers.
- Awards and Medals The RSNZ awards the Rutherford Medal (formerly the Gold Medal) and the Pickering Medal annually to recognise people who have made outstanding contributions to New Zealand society and culture in scienceScienceScience is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, mathematicsMathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, social science, and technologyTechnologyTechnology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
. Silver and Bronze medals are also awarded. - Science Education The RSNZ promotes quality science education and plays a role in setting the national science curriculum.
The New Zealand Association of Scientists
New Zealand Association of Scientists
The New Zealand Association of Scientists is a professional body for scientists in New Zealand. It differs from the Royal Society of New Zealand in being a independent non-profit incorporated society and registered charity, rather than being constituted by an Act of Parliament...
is similar body, constituted as a independent non-profit incorporated society and registered charity, rather than being constituted by an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
.
Presidents of the Royal Society of New Zealand
The current President is Garth Carnaby, who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Lincoln University on 14 April 2010Past presidents include:
- Captain Frederick Wollaston HuttonFrederick Wollaston HuttonCaptain Frederick Wollaston Hutton, FRS, was an English scientist who applied the theory of natural selection to explain the origins and nature of the natural history of New Zealand.- Biography :...
1903–04 - Sir James HectorJames HectorSir James Hector was a Scottish geologist, naturalist, and surgeon who accompanied the Palliser Expedition as a surgeon and geologist...
1905–06 - Hon. George Malcolm Thomson 1907–08
- Augustus Hamilton 1909–10
- Thomas Frederic CheesemanThomas Frederic CheesemanThomas Frederick Cheeseman was a New Zealand botanist and also a naturalist who had a wide-ranging interest in natural history, such that he even described a few species of sea slugs, marine gastropod molluscs.- Biography :...
1911–12 - Charles ChiltonCharles Chilton (zoologist)Charles Chilton was a New Zealand zoologist, the first rector to be appointed in Australasia, and the first person to be awarded a D.Sc. degree in New Zealand.-Biography:...
1913–14 - Donald Petrie 1915
- Sir William Blaxland Benham 1916–17
- Leonard CockayneLeonard CockayneLeonard Cockayne FRS is regarded as New Zealand's greatest botanist and a founder of modern science in New Zealand.-Biography:He was born in Sheffield, England where he attended Wesley College...
1918–19 - Sir Thomas Hill, Easterfield 1920–21
- Harry Borrer Kirk 1922–23
- Patrick MarshallPatrick MarshallDr. Patrick Marshall was a geologist who lived in New Zealand. For over forty years he was an outstanding figure among New Zealand scientists, and was well known to geologists in many lands as a very versatile and productive investigator. His research was also devoted to zoology...
1924–25 - Bernard Cracroft Aston 1926–27
- J Allan Thomson (Mr B. C. Aston reappointed May 1928, vice Dr J. Allan Thomson deceased.) 1928
- Clinton Coleridge Farr 1929–30
- Hugh William Segar 1931–32
- Robert Speight 1933–34
- Right Rev. Bishop Williams 1935–36
- William Percival Evans 1937–38
- Rev. John Ernest, Holloway 1939–40
- Sir Gilbert Archey 1941–42
- Harry Howard Allan 1943–45
- William Noel Benson 1946–47
- Sir Ernest Marsden 1947
- Sir Robert Alexander Falla 1948–50
- Francis Raymond Callaghan 1950–52
- Walter Reginald Brook Oliver 1952–54
- David Miller 1954–56
- Lindsay Heathcote Briggs 1956–58
- Robin Sutcliffe Allan 1958–60
- Joseph Keith Dixon 1960–62
- Sir Charles Alexander Fleming 1962–64
- Miles Aylmer Fulton Barnett 1964
- Sir Charles Alexander Fleming 1964–66
- John Arthur Reginald Miles 1966–70
- Richard Wright Willett 1970–74
- Sir Malcolm McRae Burns 1974–77
- Richard Kenneth Dell 1977–81
- Edward George Bollard 1981–85
- Trevor Hatherton 1985–89
- John Newton Dodd 1989–93
- Philippa Margaret Black 1993–97
- Sir John Scott 1997–2000
- Sir Gil SimpsonGilbert SimpsonSir Gilbert "Gil" Simpson, KNZM, QSM is a New Zealand businessman and computer programmer.-Early life:He was born in Christchurch, New Zealand and raised in the Waikato...
2000–2003 - Jim Watson 2004–2006
- Neville Jordan 2006
- Dr Garth Carnaby
Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand
The Academy Council of the society from time to time elects as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand any person who in its opinion "has achieved distinction in research or the advancement of science or technology". The number of Fellows is limited to such number as is agreed from time to time between the Academy Council and the Council of the society. A Fellow is entitled to use, in connection with his or her name, either the letters FRSNZ, which stand for Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, or such other letters or title as is agreed from time to time between the Academy Council and the Council.Constituent organisations
The society has relatively few direct members, with most membership being via constituent organisations. The constituent organisations of RSNZ are:- Agronomy Society of New Zealand
- Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (ANZEA)
- Association of Social Science Researchers
- Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (NZ Section)(ASCEPT)
- Geological Society of New Zealand
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand
- New Zealand Institute of Surveyors
- The Nutrition Society of New Zealand
- New Zealand Archaeological Association
- New Zealand Association for Research in EducationNew Zealand Association for Research in EducationNew Zealand Association for Research in Education wasestablished in December 1979 and its membership consists of individuals and organisations with an interest in educational research...
- New Zealand Association of Clinical Research
- NZ Association of Mathematics Teachers
- New Zealand Association of Science Educators
- New Zealand Association of Scientists
- New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- New Zealand Dietetic Association
- New Zealand Ecological SocietyNew Zealand Journal of EcologyThe New Zealand Journal of Ecology is a biannual peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing ecological research relevant to New Zealand and the South Pacific. It has been published since 1952, firstly as a 1952 issue of New Zealand Science Review and then as the Proceedings of the New Zealand...
- New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society
- New Zealand Geographical Society
- New Zealand Geophysical Society
- NZ Geothermal Association
- New Zealand Grassland Association
- New Zealand Hydrological Society
- NZ Institute of Agricultural & Horticultural Science
- The New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology
- New Zealand Institute of Economic ResearchNew Zealand Institute of Economic ResearchThe New Zealand Institute of Economic Research is a think tank based in New Zealand.It is non-profit incorporated society and was established in 1958....
- The New Zealand Institute of Chemistry
- New Zealand Institute of Forestry
- New Zealand Institute of Physics
- New Zealand Marine Sciences Society
- New Zealand Mathematical Society Inc.
- New Zealand Microbiological Society
- New Zealand Plant Protection Society
- New Zealand Psychological Society Incorporated
- New Zealand Society of Animal Production
- New Zealand Society of Endocrinology
- New Zealand Society for Oncology
- The New Zealand Society for Parasitology
- New Zealand Society of Plant Biologists (NZSPB)
- New Zealand Society of Soil Science
- New Zealand Statistical Association
- New Zealand Veterinary Association
- Operational Research Society of New Zealand
- The Physiological Society of New Zealand Incorporated
- Population Association of New Zealand
- Royal Astronomical Society of New ZealandRoyal Astronomical Society of New ZealandThe Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand is the New Zealand national astronomical society. It is an association of professional and amateur astronomers with the prime objective to the promotion and extension of knowledge of astronomy and related branches of science.- History :The society was...
- Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa/New Zealand
- Sociological Association of Aotearoa NZSociological Association of Aotearoa (New Zealand)Sociological Association of Aotearoa was established in February 1988 from the transformation of the New Zealand Sociological Association, a branch of the Sociological Association of Australia and New Zealand ....
- Technology Education New Zealand (TENZ)
Statement on Global Warming
On 10 July 2008, the Royal Society of New Zealand released a statement, which said in summary:- The globe is warming because of increasing greenhouse gasGreenhouse gasA greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emissions. Measurements show that greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphereAtmosphereAn atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low...
are well above levels seen for many thousands of years. Further global climate changeClimate changeClimate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
s are predicted, with impacts expected to become more costly as time progresses. Reducing future impacts of climate change will require substantial reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.