Earthquakes, the pandemic and floods – cycles of emotions

– OPINION – Sir Peter Gluckman Director, Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures In 2011, after the Christchurch earthquake, the Government asked me to consider the psychological consequences of the earthquake. The report I wrote then is available here. … Read More

Podcast: AI for Conservation

In this podcast, Koi Tū Research Fellow Dr Andrew Chen explores the use of artificial intelligence in conservation and how cutting-edge technologies can help protect the environment of Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s an application that has garnered less attention in … Read More

Public media bill still unfit for purpose

Media release The Bill that will create a new public media entity has been improved by the select committee that studied it, but it remains unfit for purpose. Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, a think tank at the … Read More

Koi Tū’s submission to Independent Electoral Review

Koi Tū made a submission on the Electoral Review. It has two associated recommendations: one on the use of citizens’ assemblies as a potentially powerful new democratic tool; and one on the pressing need for more funding to combat the … Read More

Deepening our democracy

Sir Peter Gluckman Director, Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures A few weeks ago, a parliamentary select committee considered a bill that will merge RNZ and TVNZ. This development serves as a reminder that the fourth estate is a … Read More

Interviews – Dr Andrew Chen

Last updated 11 October 2022 With the release of My Vaccine Pass, the official record of vaccination status in New Zealand, Dr Andrew Chen has been providing expert commentary on its use and potential privacy implications. Andrew has also been … Read More

Podcast: Polarisation kidnapped science, the price is paid by all

In the latest episode of UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab‘s high-level podcast series, Sir Peter Gluckman discusses with Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, how polarisation has eroded public trust in science. Listen to the podcast below … Read More

The Algorithm Charter

-INSIGHT- Dr Andrew Chen We’ve heard a lot about algorithms in recent years, whether they’re calculating your insurance premiums, running our traffic lights, or deciding what content to show you on social media platforms. While algorithms have a broader meaning, … Read More

Science, society and our future

Address to Annual Meeting of NZIER, 21 September 2022 Sir Peter Gluckman ONZ KNZM FISC FTWAS FMedSci FRS FRSNZ Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.  It is a pleasure as director of newly emergent think tank and research … Read More

Perinatal mental distress: An under-recognised concern

Perinatal mental distress is an under-recognised condition that can have serious consequences for a woman and her baby, and potentially also lead to intergenerational cycles of compromised wellbeing. This evidence brief gives an overview of the state of perinatal mental … Read More

Koi Tū acknowledges the Queen

Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, who died at Balmoral aged 96 after reigning for 70 years. The Queen ascended the throne in 1952. She was a much loved … Read More

Media release: Healthy fathers have healthy children

New Zealand men may be impacting the health of their future children through poor health and lifestyle behaviours prior to conception. A new evidence brief by Chloe Wilkinson, Dr Felicia Low and Sir Peter Gluckman at Koi Tū: The Centre … Read More

Youth mental health in the news

Sir Peter discusses the silent pandemic of worsening youth mental health, in light of a new Weekend Herald investigation on the dire state of child and adolescent mental health services across the motu. New Zealand Herald: Sir Peter Gluckman warns … Read More

New summer research scholarship project at Koi Tū

Applications for the 2022-2023 summer research scholarships at the University of Auckland are now open, and Koi Tū has an exciting new project available! Supervised by Dr Tatjana Buklijas and Dr Anne Bardsley, you will be involved in the Complex … Read More

Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Green Paper submission

As part of the Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways Green Paper consultation, Sir Peter Gluckman has contributed a submission detailing some of the key issues that need further discussion. Download Sir Peter Gluckman’s full submission here Submission abstract The … Read More

Lessons from national science advice

Sir Peter Gluckman ONZ FRS President of the International Science Council Address to 7th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) UN, New York, 6 May 2022 Well before the Covid-19 pandemic shone … Read More

Why you should keep your contact tracing app

This article was first published on Newsroom on 30 March 2022. Dr Andrew Chen The Prime Minister has announced that QR code scanning, and display of QR codes by businesses, is no longer required. Before that announcement, we were seeing … Read More

Trust and transparency are an antidote to rising autocracy

By Sir Peter Gluckman This article was first published in Stuff on 16 February 2022 What are the building blocks of democracy? As “anti-mandate” protesters camp on Parliament grounds and images of police versus protesters fill our newsfeeds, it’s a … Read More

Let the people have their say on Three Waters

By Dr Tatjana Buklijas and Campbell Guy This article was first published in Newsroom on 27 December 2021 Three Waters, a large reform programme moving management of storm, drinking and wastewater infrastructure from local government to independently appointed governing boards, … Read More

Science and the multilateral system

Sir Peter Gluckman President, International Science Council International scientific collaboration has a long history – the first organised multilateral science expeditions in the 18th century related to establishing the solar unit (the distance of the sun to earth). This enterprise … Read More

Sustaining Aotearoa New Zealand as a cohesive society

A confluence of economic, social, environmental, and technological factors are placing social cohesion in Aotearoa New Zealand under increasing threat. A new Koi Tū report explores this challenge in detail; it discusses why social cohesion is critically important, outlines a … Read More

APEC CEO Summit: What is next for New Zealand?

Remarks to panel discussion at APEC CEO Summit 2021 Sir Peter Gluckman 12 November 2021 NZ cannot avoid the challenges of geographical position and size. Covid-19 has emphasised its isolation, at times reinforced its willingness to be somewhat complacent in … Read More

Koi Tū welcomes contact tracing record protections

Over the past year, Koi Tū Research Fellow Dr Andrew Chen has called for legislative protections for contact tracing records to make it explicit that misuse of these records is unacceptable. Potential concerns ranged from Police requesting the data for … Read More

Technology, contact tracing, and Delta

This article was first published on Mashed Calculus and Differential Potatoes on 6 November 2021. -OPINION- Dr Andrew Chen Earlier this week I presented to some government officials about technology for contact tracing from an outside perspective. I’m not in … Read More

Covid-19 aerosol and the cigarette smoke analogy

– OPINION – Professor Stephen Goldson, Koi Tū Associate member Dr Joel Rindelaub, School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland   In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic masks were not thought to be effective in preventing transmission. Initially, … Read More

Media release: Urgent rethink on migration policies needed

Aotearoa New Zealand needs to urgently rethink its migration policies to give immigrants, employers and industry sectors clarity as Covid-19 continues to affect international mobility and migration. Migration and demography expert, Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley, says it is naive to … Read More

Covid-19, (im)mobility and migration

-OPINION- [1] Professor Paul Spoonley, Koi Tū Associate member   Peter Gluckman noted, in a recent opinion piece, that the policy responses across the globe to the pandemic have “not been consistent or coherent”. This is nowhere more apparent than … Read More

Beyond science, there are hard decisions ahead

Tough decisions we’ve had to make in order to protect NZ from Covid will pale in comparison to those we must make soon. Sir Peter Gluckman explains.  Science has played an essential part in Aotearoa New Zealand’s response to this … Read More

Improving mask use to reduce COVID-19 transmission

A new Koi Tū rapid evidence brief has synthesised the most up-to-date research on medical masks, cloth masks and N95 respirator masks, and suggests that New Zealand needs improved mask wearing guidelines to best protect ourselves against highly transmissible variants … Read More

Progressing the sustainability agenda

Remarks to the opening plenary of Science Summit to the United Nations 76th General Assembly Sir Peter Gluckman President-Elect of the International Science Council 14 September 2021 Mr Chairman, Members of the UN family, First let me congratulate His Excellency … Read More

The science-policy nexus and the green transition

Speech to the Workshop on Science for the Green Transition An accompanying event to the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union with UKRI, FORMAS, CSIC and Science Europe) 7 September 2021 Sir Peter Gluckman President-Elect, International Science … Read More

Media release: Time to strengthen societal cohesion

Aotearoa New Zealand must do more to strengthen its long-term societal cohesion says Sir Peter Gluckman New Zealanders’ high compliance with Covid-19 lockdown rules and our collective responses to the Auckland and Christchurch terror attacks demonstrate our societal values and … Read More

Transitions, transformations and tradeoffs

Protecting and strengthening societal resilience and cohesion Reflecting on the 18 months since Koi Tū’s launch   New Zealanders’ high compliance with Covid-19 lockdown rules and our collective responses to the Auckland and Christchurch terror attacks demonstrate our societal values … Read More

Media release: How does screen time affect children?

Seven out of eight Kiwi kids exceed recommended recreational screen time guidelines, but what is the significance of those guidelines and how should they be interpreted? A new peer-reviewed evidence brief, Screen time: The effects on children’s emotional, social, and … Read More

INGSA: the past, the present and the future

Address to the closing session of INGSA2021, Montreal 2nd September 2021 Sir Peter Gluckman Founding Chair, International Network for Government Science Advice The past In 2009 I was invited by our Prime Minister to be New Zealand’s first chief science … Read More

Covid-19, climate change and public decision making

-OPINION- Sir Peter Gluckman The Covid-19 pandemic continues to progress in a relatively predictable manner with the evolution of more transmissible variants and countries fighting back with a mix of vaccines and behavioral strategies. The long-term implications of the pandemic … Read More

On mandatory recordkeeping for contact tracing

This article was first published on Mashed Calculus and Differential Potatoes on 22 August 2021. -OPINION- Dr Andrew Chen On 22 August 2021, Minister Chris Hipkins announced that recordkeeping for contact tracing purposes would become mandatory at “busy places and … Read More

What’s wrong with Bluetooth Tracing?

This article was first published on Mashed Calculus and Differential Potatoes on 29 August 2021 and has also been republished on NZ Herald and The Spinoff. -OPINION- Dr Andrew Chen We know that contact tracing is a critical part of … Read More

The disadvantage passed down through generations

In a piece published in Newsroom, Dr Felicia Low discusses how poor maternal mental health acts as a biological contributor to the problem of intergenerational disadvantage in New Zealand. Stress during pregnancy may impact on the baby’s brain development, with … Read More

Unleashing Science: Delivering Missions for Sustainability

An official side-event at the 2021 High-Level Political Forum, International Science Council From ISC: The side event brought together policy makers, national science funders, foundations, development aid agencies and international science institutions to present a roadmap to how scale up … Read More

Interview – Re-opening NZ’s borders

With Australia’s recent announcement of its plans to re-open its borders, there are now increasing questions around what New Zealand’s response should look like. Sir Peter joined Q+A’s Jack Tame to discuss the critical importance of vaccination in being able … Read More

Interview – Reconnecting New Zealand with the world

In an interview with Stuff’s John Anthony, Sir Peter Gluckman shares some thoughts on what is needed to reopen New Zealand’s borders to the rest of the world. See Covid-19: How New Zealand might reconnect with the world after nearly … Read More

Lessons from our Covid tracing app

It has been one-year since the release of the NZ Covid Tracer app to aid contact tracing efforts during Covid-19 outbreaks. In a piece for Newsroom, Dr Andrew Chen discusses how well the app has been used, how useful it … Read More

The Conversation: the trans-Tasman bubble

Flights have resumed between New Zealand and NSW, but the temporary travel pause may not be the last An article in The Conversation co-authored by Andrew Chen and University of Canterbury professor Michael Plank discusses the challenges of quarantine-free travel between … Read More

Revival, rethink and redesign

Keynote address from Sir Peter Gluckman to the Institute of Directors Download speech notes here See also: BusinessDesk: ‘New post-pandemic’ nightmare to last for years ($ – 6 May)   I want to focus on the challenging climate in which … Read More

Podcast – ‘The Do One Better! Podcast’

Join Peter Gluckman as he chats with Alberto Lidji, host of The Do One Better! Podcast, about science advice, policy making and science diplomacy in a post-Covid world. The transcript is available here, and can be downloaded via links at … Read More

Speech – opening address to the Global Forum of Funders

The 2nd Global Forum of Funders, organised by the International Science Council, brings together leaders from national research funding agencies, foundations and development aid agencies to collaborate on supporting science for global sustainability. Sir Peter Gluckman gave the opening address … Read More

Strategy guidance note on the science-policy interface

The UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA), which is part of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), has been leading a project to develop a set of principles of effective governance for sustainable … Read More

Media release: Rethink needed about how Governments manage risk

Countries need to rethink how they prepare for and manage high-impact risks, say researchers in a new report which exposes gaps in New Zealand’s risk management ecosystem. The report Uncertain but inevitable – the expert-policy-political nexus and high-impact risks says … Read More

New position available – Research Assistant

Do you have a postgraduate degree in public health, public policy or a related discipline? We are looking for a new Research Assistant to undertake literature reviews and write synthesis reports, primarily in the field of human development and wellbeing. … Read More

Interview – water fluoridation

The Government has proposed shifting control over water fluoridation decisions from local councils to the Director-General of Health. Peter Gluckman discusses this change with Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB:  

Science advice to government – why is it relevant?

Science Advice to Government – Why is it Relevant? Peter Gluckman and other speakers deliberate on this topic as part of the workshop series Is Science Advice for Policy Useful in Modern Societies? organised by the Center for Philosophy of … Read More

New PhD opportunity

Come work with us! Are you a social science or humanities scholar? We have a funded PhD opportunity at the University of Auckland with Kristiann Allen of Koi Tū and Jennifer Salmond from the School of Environment looking at public decision-making … Read More

Podcast – The Conversation Weekly

In The Conversation Weekly’s latest podcast, COVID-19: where does the World Health Organization go from here?, Peter Gluckman shares some thoughts on the role of the World Health Organization in the Covid-19 pandemic (starts 12’11”). 

Achieving equitable mental wellbeing for Māori and Pasifika youth

-INSIGHT- Rochelle Menzies[1]   The world has changed significantly in recent decades, meaning contemporary youth are experiencing life in ways never encountered by previous generations. In this fast-changing world, younger generations face a myriad of challenges to their mental wellbeing, … Read More

The diplomatic challenges of Covid

-OPINION- Sir Peter Gluckman President-Elect, International Science Council Director, Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, University of Auckland Right from the first appearance of the Covid-19 virus, nationalistic and domestic politics in many countries compromised the global response. From … Read More

Koi Tū turns one

Today marks the first anniversary of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures since we were officially launched by the Governor-General on March 4. Over the past year, the Koi Tū team’s highlights have been engaging with many academic, industry … Read More

Beyond elimination

-OPINION- Sir Peter Gluckman As the Global Covid Scenarios project gets underway, it is worth reflecting on New Zealand’s current and future strategy in dealing with the pandemic. I have been surprised how many think we can live with elimination … Read More

Koi Tū supports Global Studies programme

Dr Tatjana Buklijas, Koi Tū Associate Director – Academic, has been appointed a Senior Lecturer to the Global Studies programme at the University of Auckland. Tatjana will split her time between Koi Tū and the transdisciplinary Global Studies programme, which … Read More

Future scenarios for the Covid-19 pandemic

Media release Wednesday 17 February  Two top New Zealand scientists are key members of a new international panel mapping future Covid-19 scenarios. Epidemiologist Professor Sir David Skegg of the University of Otago and Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, the President-elect of … Read More

Open letter: Data use protections for NZ COVID Tracer

The content below has been reproduced from a 5 January 2021 post on Andrew Chen’s blog. Watch: Andrew discusses the letter in an interview with 1News Update, 10 February 2021: Read Minister Hipkins’ response to Andrew’s letter News articles on January … Read More

Koi Tū welcomes new environmental research review

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, is to be congratulated on a thoughtful, reflective report that covers the long-term challenges facing environmental research in Aotearoa New Zealand. The report, A review of the funding and prioritisation of environmental … Read More

Rethinking human development

A Global Young Academy/International Science Council dialogue Sir Peter Gluckman gave a keynote presentation on human development in a special dialogue session organised as part of the wider ISC/UNDP project on Conversations in Rethinking Human Development. Watch the video below:

Policy Labs conversations

As part of the Frontiers Policy Labs initiative, Sir Peter Gluckman spoke with Prof Jean Claude Burgelman from Free University of Brussels about scientific advice and policymaking in the context of the COVID-19 response, as well as how science diplomacy … Read More

Successful bid – International Public Policy Observatory

INGSA and Koi Tū, through the leadership of Dr Tatjana Buklijas and Kristiann Allen, have been part of the successful bid to participate in the newly established International Public Policy Observatory. Funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council … Read More

Media release: Exploring NZ’s post-pandemic direction

New Zealand needs to have tough conversations about how we can make collective decisions to improve the long-term prospects of all New Zealanders, says a new think-tank report. The Future is Now: Exploring the post-pandemic direction for Aotearoa New Zealand … Read More

First report of the INGSA Evidence-to-Policy Tracker

Preliminary findings from an exploratory study of the database In February 2020, when many parts of world were taking unprecedented measures to try to control the spread of the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus, INGSA turned to its global community for help … Read More

SAPEA Science for policy podcast

Sir Peter sat down with SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) for a Science for Policy podcast, in which conversation topics ranged from the factors driving the formation of Koi Tū, through to the global response to COVID-19 … Read More

Koi Tū newsletter – September 2020

Check out our latest newsletter – it covers just some of our latest work, including an opinion piece on the importance of sustaining democracy in challenging times, and reports and commentaries on rangatahi mental health and education. Plus, don’t forget … Read More

8 ways to get high quality expert advice

INGSA Executive Officer Lara Cowen has written a piece for Apolitical explaining the different ways by which policy makers can better access expert advice. Read the article here

Covid-19 and beyond: Contextualising our decision making

Below are the notes for Sir Peter Gluckman’s keynote speech at the ANZ-KangaNews New Zealand Capital Markets Forum on 20 August 2020 Download speech in PDF format See also: Media release: Time to refresh NZ’s long-term strategy *NEW* Stuff: Government … Read More

The science-policy interface

Sir Peter Gluckman gave a lecture to the Global Research Alliance‘s CLIFF-GRADS (Climate, Food and Farming Global Research Alliance Development Scholarships) alumni on The science-policy interface. The webinar can be viewed here: Courtesy of Global Research Alliance   The presentation … Read More

Addressing rangatahi education: Challenges after COVID-19

A partnership report by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures has examined how the COVID-19 lockdown has impacted on young Māori students’ educational experiences. Addressing rangatahi education: Challenges after COVID-19 reports on the challenges faced … Read More

Investiture – Anne Bardsley

Congratulations to Dr Anne Bardsley on her investiture yesterday (22 July) by the Governor-General of New Zealand! Anne was recognised in the 2020 New Year honours with a Membership of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her contributions … Read More

Koi Tū webinar: Digital technology for contact tracing

Updated 3 July 2020 Thank you to the attendees of today’s Koi Tū webinar on Digital Technologies for Contact Tracing, presented by Dr Andrew Chen. Here are links to the recording and the presentation slides. Webinar information Want to learn … Read More

Re-engaging New Zealand with the world

A new Koi Tū Conversation Paper co-authored by Sir Peter Gluckman, Rt Hon Helen Clark and Rob Fyfe calls for a public conversation on when and how New Zealand can reopen to the world. Download the paper, Re-engaging New Zealand … Read More

Koi Tū newsletter – June/July 2020

Our second newsletter, which summarises some of the papers arising from Koi Tū’s The Future Is Now Conversation Series, and showcases other insight/opinion pieces, is out now. Download it here

Rebooting science diplomacy in the context of COVID-19

Sir Peter Gluckman and Dr Vaughan Turekian, Koi Tū international affiliate and Executive Director of policy and global affairs at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, have written an essay exploring the role of science diplomacy within the … Read More

Reducing harm: The challenge of difficult choices

PD Gluckman The concept of harm reduction has a long history as an essential component of public health [1]. It is essentially a matter of making choices and taking actions which on the one hand reduce known health risks,  but … Read More

Protecting and promoting mental wellbeing: Beyond COVID-19

The fifth discussion paper from the Koi Tū ‘The Future is Now’ Conversation Series, Protecting and Promoting Mental Wellbeing: Beyond COVID-19, focuses on mitigating the threats posed by COVID-19 to the mental wellbeing of New Zealanders – both the already … Read More

Interview – This Climate Business

Sir Peter Gluckman and Dr Anne Bardsley chat with Vincent Heeringa, host of the podcast This Climate Business, about the importance of integrated, long-term planning relating to the environment in post-Covid New Zealand. Listen to the podcast here (34’11”)

The Environment is Now

The fourth discussion paper in Koi Tū’s The Future is Now Conversations Series, titled The Environment is Now, discusses the centrality of environmental sustainability in decisions about New Zealand’s future. Download the discussion paper here See also: Media release: Environment … Read More

Challenges of contact tracing in Pacific communities

-OPINION- Dr Collin Tukuitonga Associate Member, Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures Introduction The socio-economic circumstances of, and cultural practices among, Pacific communities in Aotearoa/NZ makes some of the measures required to contain or eliminate COVID-19, including contact tracing, … Read More

On facial recognition, police, and regulation of new technologies

-OPINION- Colin Gavaghan, Alistair Knott, James Maclaurin, Kristiann Allen, Andrew Chen Last week, RNZ reported that NZ Police had been testing facial identification software from Clearview AI without “the necessary clearance.” Although the trial was seemingly abandoned at an early … Read More

Global science technology and innovation cooperation post-COVID-19

United Nations Science Technology and Innovation Digital Conference Contributions to the panel on Restructuring of Global Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Cooperation Post-COVID-19 15 May 2020 Sir Peter Gluckman Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice President-Elect of … Read More

On Fragmentation of Digital Contact Tracing Registers

– OPINION – Why might having too many options for digital contact tracing registers present challenges, asks Koi Tū Research Fellow Dr Andrew Chen. As New Zealanders are venturing out of their homes into wider public and private realms this … Read More

Reflections on the evidentiary-politics interface

– INSIGHT – Sir Peter Gluckman Chair, INGSA The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the interface between science and political decision making into sharp focus. The media and public in many countries are being confronted daily not only by a wide … Read More

Interview with Sarah Perriam (Sarah’s Country)

Sir Peter Gluckman was on tv/radio show Sarah’s Country to talk about the central role of farmers and the primary sector in future proofing the New Zealand economy. Listen to the podcast (~13 min) on YouTube (below) or Podcast.co.  

Interview with Jacob Anderson

In a wide ranging long-form conversation with BLAKE’s Jacob Anderson, Sir Peter Gluckman discusses the paths forward for post-COVID-19 New Zealand, the importance of transdisciplinarity, and how we can also tackle the issues of climate change, mental health wellbeing and … Read More

He Oranga Hou: Social cohesion in a post-COVID world

The second discussion paper of the Koi Tū: The Future is Now Series, titled He Oranga Hou: Social cohesion in a post-COVID world, examines the critical issue of how New Zealand’s strong national unity during lockdown will become increasingly tested … Read More

Reflections on human potential and resilience

In a commentary published by the International Science Council, Sir Peter Gluckman reflects on the need for the prevailing human development paradigm to be broadened beyond its economic foundation. He argues that questions around the measurement of human capital could … Read More

Interview – Glas Koncila (Croatia)

Dr Tatjana Buklijas talked to Croatian Catholic weekly Glas Koncila about a broad range of issues related to Covid-19, including the value of historical pandemics in understanding and confronting Covid-19, the various ways by which epidemics have changed history, and … Read More

Reflections on our path ahead

– OPINION – Sir Peter Gluckman Director: Koi Tū: the Centre for Informed Futures We have managed though an early and very effective lockdown to get almost absolute control of COVID-19 spread in New Zealand. But we must be prepared … Read More

Interview – Rebuilding Paradise with Paul Henry

How should New Zealand move forward towards the post-pandemic future, and what are the key areas that we should focus on? Sir Peter Gluckman discusses these issues on Rebuilding Paradise with Paul Henry.

Koi Tū newsletter – April 2020

Our first newsletter is out! Read about the range of activities Koi Tū has undertaken to demonstrate its value as a source of informed insight in the wake of Covid-19 and its challenges. Download it here

Interview with Robett Hollis

For an unrushed, in-depth discussion of the issues arising in the wake of Covid-19, have a listen to Sir Peter Gluckman’s interview with entrepreneur Robett Hollis (1 h 22 min; livestreamed 22 April).  

Transdisciplinarity and Universities: a path ahead

PD Gluckman, K Allen, A Bardsley, T Buklijas (Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, Auckland) M Kaiser (Centre for the Study of Humanities and Science, University of Bergen)   This paper[i] places a more extensive discussion in the context … Read More

Interview – Newstalk ZB

Sir Peter Gluckman talks to Newstalk ZB’s Weekend Collective about New Zealand’s Alert Levels, our preparedness for future crises, and Covid-19 vaccine access.

Interview – Use of CovidCards in NZ

Dr Andrew Chen talked to Newsroom’s Marc Daalder about the proposal to distribute Bluetooth-enabled cards (‘CovidCards’) to all New Zealanders to assist with contact tracing efforts. Read the article here.  

Digital giants enter digital contact tracing

– OPINION – A new proposal for digital contact tracing has unique strengths, writes Koi Tū Research Fellow Dr Andrew Chen.   Another week has passed, with a lot of activity in the digital contact tracing space. The Prime Minister … Read More

Interview – comments on mandatory quarantine

Sir Peter Gluckman offers some thoughts on mandatory quarantine and its importance in suppressing COVID-19 infections in New Zealand. Read Collette Devlin’s report at stuff.co.nz.

Koi Tū’s role in the response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic shows how critical it is for governments to plan and think long term. While it’s natural for most people to focus on the short-term and surviving COVID-19, we must not lose sight of the importance of longer-term … Read More

Observations on surveillance

– OPINION – Professor David R Penman Director, David Penman & Associates Professor Stephen L Goldson FRSNZ Affiliate member, Koi Tū Principal Scientist, AgResearch and Professor, Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University   Between us, having spent 100 years on pest … Read More

Opinion – science advice and global crises

In an opinion piece for ResearchProfessional News, Sir Peter Gluckman writes about the immense challenge COVID-19 has posed to evidence-informed policymaking, and the need for science advice systems to adapt to address this and other global crises.

Interviews – Contact tracing in NZ

RNZ’s Phil Pennington reports on Sir Peter Gluckman comments on the status of contact tracing in New Zealand to combat COVID-19. Other interviews: Keeping Covid-19 under control: What NZ can learn from other countries – 4 April – 1 NEWS … Read More

Hard decisions in digital contact tracing

– OPINION – The concept of digital contract tracing raises tough questions that require hard decisions, writes Koi Tū Research Fellow Dr Andrew Chen.   Since we discussed contact tracing in the media over the past week, our Centre has … Read More

Interview – COVID-19 and the weather

Dr Felicia Low spoke to NZ Herald’s Jamie Morton about Koi Tū’s new initiative to collate the emerging literature exploring the relationship between COVID-19 transmission and the weather. You can read the article here.

Interviews – contact tracing & COVID-19

Dr Andrew Chen has expanded on the themes raised in his article, The trade-offs for digital data and contact tracing, in interviews with NZ Herald’s Jamie Morton (1 April) and RNZ Morning Report’s Susie Ferguson (2 April).

How epidemics change us

– OPINION – Dr Tatjana Buklijas Associate Director – Teaching, Koi Tū: the Centre for Informed Futures As governments around the world try to contain the pandemic of Covid-19, they often draw on experiences of past epidemics. The swift and … Read More

Social cohesion at a time of social distancing?

– OPINION – Kristiann Allen Associate Director, Policy and International Engagement, Koi Tū: the Centre for Informed Futures   We are living in an extraordinary time.  The pandemic now gripping the planet – massive and urgent in itself – is … Read More

Societal resilience – unpacking the black box

– INSIGHT – Dr Anne Bardsley Deputy Director, Koi Tū: the Centre for Informed Futures   Resilience relates to the ability of an organization/country to adapt or transform positively in response to significant transitions or threats to its wellbeing, arising … Read More

COVID-19 and the weather

There is a lot of interest in whether COVID-19 transmission is affected by temperature, and in particular what will happen as New Zealand enters autumn and then winter. The available data are of course limited and largely ecological in nature, … Read More

The trade-offs for digital data and contact tracing

– OPINION – Dr Andrew Chen Research Fellow, Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures   Contact tracing is one of the most powerful tools in containing the spread of an infectious agent like SARS-CoV-2 (the pathogen that causes COVID-19). … Read More

INGSA database on science advice & COVID-19

The International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) has launched a new database of resources on the effective utilisation of evidence into policy and practice with respect to COVID-19. INGSA Chair Sir Peter Gluckman explained to Times Higher Education the … Read More

Interviews – Breakfast & Seven Sharp, TVNZ1

Sir Peter emphasises to Seven Sharp reporter Tim Wilson, and Breakfast’s John Campbell, the importance of adhering to level 4 restrictions, including social distancing, to slow down the rise of COVID-19 cases in New Zealand.  

Koi Tū, the virus and the future

– INSIGHT – Sir Peter Gluckman Director, Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into stark focus the interaction between science, experts, society, policy making and politics. Across the world this interaction is playing out … Read More

Official launch of Koi Tū in Wellington

  In view of the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19 in New Zealand, the official Wellington launch of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures on 19 March was moved online. The launch included a presentation of the Centre’s strategy … Read More

Expert commentary on COVID-19

HINA, the government-owned national news agency of Croatia, has sought expert commentary from Dr Tatjana Buklijas about how COVID-19 compares to historic epidemics, and what we can learn from pandemic histories. The interview has been published by several news outlets … Read More

Interview – Newstalk ZB

Sir Peter joined Newstalk ZB’s Andrew Dickens to talk about his new book Ingenious: The Unintended Consequences of Human Innovation and the work of Koi Tū: the Centre for Informed Futures. Listen to the interview here.

Knowledge & democracy workshop

On 27 February 2020, Koi Tū: the Centre for Informed Futures hosted a conference and workshop Knowledge and democracy: Mobilizing multiple types of evidence for public deliberation through ‘Complex conversations’. The meeting launched the two-year MBIE Endeavour Smart Ideas project, … Read More

Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis

Congratulations to Koi Tū – Centre for Informed Futures Research Fellow, Dr Andrew Chen, on being awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis (2019)! Andrew’s thesis, The computers have a thousand eyes: Towards a practical and ethical video analytics … Read More

Interview on The Armen Show

In an in-depth and wide ranging interview, Sir Peter chatted with Armen Shirvanian about his research background, his decades long collaboration with Prof Mark Hanson, and the concepts raised in Ingenious: The Unintended Consequences of Human Innovation. You can listen … Read More

Interview – RNZ

In a chat with RNZ’s Kathryn Ryan, Sir Peter discussed the key themes of his new book Ingenious: The Unintended Consequences of Human Innovation and how they relate to some of the major components of SciPoDS’ work. The podcast can … Read More

Recognition in New Year Honours

Koi Tū Deputy Director, Dr Anne Bardsley, recognised in the 2020 New Year Honours We were delighted that Anne’s many contributions were recognised with the award of Membership of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her contributions to … Read More

SciPoDS newsletter #1

Our first newsletter is out! Hear from SciPoDS Director Sir Peter Gluckman, learn about the SciPoDS Advisory Board and find out some of the activities that our members have been involved in recently. To subscribe to our newsletter, please fill … Read More

Op-Ed – New Zealand Herald

In an op-ed for the New Zealand Herald, Sir Peter and Prof Mark Hanson ask, Are humans too ingenious for our own good? The piece provides an overview of their recent book Ingenious: The Unintended Consequences of Human Innovation, which … Read More

Interview – North & South magazine

Sir Peter and long-time collaborator Prof Mark Hanson sat down with Donna Chisholm from North & South magazine, to discuss their new book Ingenious: The Unintended Consequences of Human Innovation (Harvard University Press). The interview is available here.   See … Read More

Public lecture – Prof James Wilsdon

SciPoDS is currently hosting Prof James Wilsdon as a Distinguished Visitor of the University of Auckland. Prof Wilsdon is Director of the UK Research on Research Institute, Professor of Research Policy at the University of Sheffield, and vice-Chair of INGSA. … Read More

Speech – Lisbon Council

Sir Peter gave a speech to the Lisbon Council, a Brussels-based think tank and policy network, at a high-level roundtable on The Future of Work: How Better Family Policy and Access to Lifetime Learning Will Drive Europe’s Development. Notes for … Read More

University of Bergen Honorary Doctorate

Sir Peter was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Bergen, Norway, and gave a speech on Science in a global perspective – challenges ahead. The speech notes can be downloaded here. Sir Peter’s acceptance speech on behalf of … Read More

Success at 2019 MBIE Endeavour Fund

Dr Tatjana Buklijas, Kristiann Allen and Dr Anne Bardsley, together with Dr Jacquie Bay (Liggins Institute) and Dr Matire Harwood (School of Population Health), have been awarded a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Endeavour Fund Smart Ideas grant. … Read More

Interview – RNZ Morning Report

In an interview with RNZ’s Morning Report programme, Dr Andrew Chen discussed the implications of Auckland Transport’s plan to expand the CCTV network across the city. The interview is available for listening or downloading here.

Keynote lecture – HortNZ conference

Sir Peter delivered the keynote lecture at the 2019 Horticulture NZ conference. Media and links: Speech notes Media release Media reports in RNZ, Stuff, and NZ Herald (article 1 | article 2)  

Presentation: 10 rules for policy brokerage

Sir Peter talked about the 10 rules for policy brokerage at the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) meeting on evidence-policy brokerage. The Powerpoint slides are available here.  

Address – Jerry Ravetz’s 90th birthday

Sir Peter gave an address at a University of Oxford workshop honouring Jerry Ravetz (who along with Silvio Funtowicz developed the concept of post-normal science), on the occasion of his 90th birthday. The speech notes are available here.

Lecture – INGSA/EU LifeCycle Project

Sir Peter delivered a lecture on Translating evidence to policy: principles and practice at a workshop in Copenhagen jointly organised by INGSA and the EU’s LifeCycle Project. The Powerpoint slides can be downloaded here.

Lecture – Wolfson College, Oxford

Sir Peter delivered a lecture on Expanding the diplomatic toolkit: the further evolution of science diplomacy, as part of Wolfson College’s Diplomacy for the 21st century lecture series. This lecture was also delivered to the New Zealand High Commission on … Read More

Times Higher Education interview

The Times Higher Education has published an interview with Sir Peter Gluckman: Engage with climate deniers and anti-vaxxers, says science chief (free registration required).

Address at INGSA workshop, Global Young Academy conference

Sir Peter Gluckman delivered the keynote address at an INGSA capacity building workshop on science advice that was run at the 2019 Global Young Academy AGM and international conference in Halle, Germany. The Powerpoint slides can be downloaded here.  

Address to ANZAC ceremony

This ANZAC day, Sir Peter Gluckman gave an address to the ANZAC ceremony at Auckland Grammar School.

Vaughan Turekian – Radio New Zealand interview

Dr Vaughan Turekian, Executive Director of the Policy and Global Affairs Division (PGA) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, has been in New Zealand as the first international guest at SciPoDS. In addition to delivering the Norman … Read More

Kupe leadership programme launch

Sir Peter Gluckman spoke at the launch of the inaugural Kupe Leadership Scholarships on Democracy, Leadership, Difficult Conversations and Truth-Decay. The speech notes can be downloaded here. The Kupe Leadership Scholarships offer a bespoke leadership development programme alongside the scholars’ … Read More

Sir Peter named Communicator of the Year

Sir Peter Gluckman was named 2019 New Zealand Communicator of the Year by BlacklandPR, for his debunking of the “meth test myth” and stimulating public discussion on contentious issues such as genetic modification. Press release

Radio New Zealand interview: intergenerational trauma

Dr Tatjana Buklijas was a speaker at the Centre for Social Impact’s 2019 Kōtuitui (interweaving conversations), the theme of which was Collective and intergenerational trauma in New Zealand/Aotearoa – a conversation towards healing (21st February). Dr Buklijas’ presentation can be … Read More

Evidence and policy: A workshop for engineers

The SciPoDS/INGSA team led a workshop on evidence and policy for a group of about 40 staff and students from the University of Auckland’s Department of Engineering. The students belonged to the Faculty of Engineering’s Dean’s Leadership Programme, an initiative … Read More

OECD presentation – Standards of evidence in policy advice

Sir Peter Gluckman made the keynote introduction to the October 2018 OECD meeting on standards of evidence in policy advice. The presentation slides can be downloaded here. Background Fostering evidence-informed policy making in a post-truth context is challenging. Governments recognise … Read More