By Richard Braddell
WELLINGTON - The Government's science funding agency, the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, has clarified the position of John Manning, the manager of Technology New Zealand, who was replaced by an acting manager last week.
The foundation's chief executive, Dr Steve Thompson, said Mr Manning would be resuming his position "very shortly" after completing a special project related to an unusually heavy workload at the foundation.
Recent remarks by Mr Manning on the allocation of research funding are believed to have upset some Crown Research Institutes which collectively receive about 83 per cent of the $290 million Public Good Science Fund administered by the foundation.
However, Dr Thompson, who returned from overseas on Friday, said Mr Manning, in common with other managers at the foundation, was helping with a heavier-than-usual workload due to the implementation of the Foresight Project and preparation of the minister's statement of science funding priorities.
Dr Thompson said the foundation was currently conducting a review of how it got its message across to the media and the earlier refusals by Mr Manning and a foundation spokesperson to comment on his change in duties was related to that review.
Science manager 'eases workload'
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.