KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's meagre funding of basic research has been harshly rebuked by science leaders.
Yesterday the Herald revealed that 460 leading scientists were disillusioned with research funding levels - up to three times lower than other OECD countries.
Minister of Science Pete Hodgson claimed New Zealand's basic research funding was about 40 per cent of its $700 million total research funding - proportionate to other countries.
That claim was scorned by Otago University senior genetics lecturer and head of the university's emerging researchers group "O-Zone", Dr Peter Dearden.
Dr Dearden said the minister was being "disingenuous', by bringing other funding streams under "basic research", which is research funded purely on its scientific excellence, not industrial or commercial spin-offs.
But most of the research funded by the Government was based on its links to industry, he said.
"And if that's basic research then I'm a monkey's uncle. It's a joke. It isn't basic research at all." Mr Hodgson's comments made him feel "like researchers aren't respected in this country". His research on bees had let him follow his passions, but had then led to successful commercial spin-offs.
Auckland University dean of science Professor Dick Bellamy said the Government had done two good things for research - establishing the Centres of Research Excellence Fund and the Partnerships for Excellence framework.
"What they have neglected is the funding for the folk with the individual bright ideas."
