"Recent discussions about science and mātauranga Māori have highlighted the need for IRANZ members to note our collective support for not only our Māori colleagues but also mātauranga Māori. As a collective, we aim to develop sustainable solutions to the challenges we all face, with an open-minded, inclusive, and bold approach that incorporates values beyond traditional science. In many research facilities, including our members, indigenous and non-indigenous researchers are working in partnership to solve some of these significant challenges. We are committed to upholding the value of mātauranga Māori, and the mana of our Māori colleagues and their marae communities." - Dr John McDermott, IRANZ Chair.
Read our statement: IRANZ & STEMM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, & Mātauranga
Latest news and updates
Speaker's Science Forum: Alternative forms of environmental governance
September 2022: “Here in Aotearoa New Zealand two-thirds of our rare ecosystems are under threat of collapse, and from what we can see it’s been getting worse. In fact, there is evidence to suggest New Zealand is losing species and ecosystems faster than nearly any other country,” says Te Tira Whakamātaki co-founder Melanie Mark-Shadbolt.
At the Speaker’s Science Forum on 10 August, MPs gathered to hear Māori academics Dr Shaun Awatere (Ngāti Porou) and Melanie Mark-Shadbolt (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitane, Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Tūwharetoa, Whakatōhea, Te Ātiawa) discuss alternative forms of environmental governance.
Māori academics Dr Shaun Awatere, left, and Melanie Mark-Shadbolt outlined why alternative forms of environmental governance are needed to address the triple threat of disasters, disease, and climate change. Photo: Royal Society Te Apārangi.
Verum Group work presented to Cornell University
September 2022: In August, Research Scientist Dr Carol Bedoya had the pleasure of presenting Verum Group’s bioacoustic research to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which manages the global eBird site. Carol presented about deep clustering approaches for the individual identification and censusing of birds by their calls, a type of passive acoustic monitoring, that he and Behavioural Ecologist Dr Laura Molles have been developing.
Carol says the method had caught the attention of Cornell's Lab, leading to his invite to present at the Acoustic Methods seminar there.
“The scrutiny of experts that work in the same field is fundamental in scientific research. This seminar is important for us because it is probably the most technical audience we could ever have.”
Laura and Carol have expanded their research to other New Zealand species, including bellbird/korimako (Anthornis melanura). Photo: Louise Thomas.