30 years of Marsden Fund research excellence celebrated at Parliament
The Marsden Fund celebrated 30 years of research excellence at an event in Parliament this week. Hosted by Hon Judith Collins KC, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, with the Marsden Fund Council Chair Gill Dobbie FRSNZ, it was an evening to celebrate the best and boldest ideas supported by the fund – ideas with the potential to generate unexpected breakthroughs and innovations with long-term economic, health, social, cultural and environmental benefits for all New Zealanders.
Minister Collins set out her ambitions for a strong and connected science, innovation and technology sector, and with an intent to reform New Zealand’s gene technology rules to enable excellent outcomes for the whole country.
We were also delighted to hear from Rt Hon Simon Upton FRSNZ, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, who reminded us of his aspirations for the fund when he instigated it in the mid-1990s.
A panel, led by Professor Emily Parker FRSNZ, with Professor Dame Juliet Gerrard FRSNZ, Professor Richard Newcomb and Professor Chellie Spiller shared inspirational Marsden projects that have captured their imagination and encapsulate the unique value of the fund.