New Zealand Association of Scientists
An independent New Zealand association that represents scientists and promotes the socially responsible use of science.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) is an independent, nonprofit association for scientists and science workers in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was established in 1941 as the New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers, at a time when the social purpose of scientific research, the status of technical workers, and the contribution of science to wartime and post-war reconstruction were prominent public questions. Its founding objective was to encourage the wider application of science and scientific methods for the benefit of society while advancing the interests of people working in science. The association is distinct from the Royal Society of New Zealand. Whereas the Royal Society is constituted under legislation, the NZAS operates as an independent incorporated society and registered charity. It is not a trade union, although employment conditions, salaries, professional status, and gender equality have been recurring concerns since its early years. Its work has generally combined professional representation with policy advocacy, public discussion, and consideration of the ethical, economic, and social consequences of scientific activity. The organization changed its name to the New Zealand Association of Scientists in 1954. During its early decades it addressed the position of scientific technicians, encouraged better access to information about scientists and research, promoted stronger national science policy, and argued that scientific research could generate broad economic and public benefits. It also supported the development of school science fairs and contributed to debate about the organization and funding of research in New Zealand. From the 1970s onward, the association developed a more explicit interest in the social responsibilities of science. Its subjects included nuclear research, genetics, environmental protection, freedom for scientists to speak publicly, and the effects of government restructuring on research. Gender equity became an important theme, and Ann Bell became the association's first woman president in 1982. Later leaders and members continued to examine gender inequality and institutional culture in science, including through public writing and discussion. The NZAS has responded to major changes in New Zealand's research system, including the reforms of the early 1990s that led to the Crown Research Institutes. It later participated in debate around the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways review. Its conferences have addressed public-good science, science-policy relationships, research-system reform, and the participation of scientists beyond traditional research institutions. A central continuing activity is publication of the peer-reviewed New Zealand Science Review. First issued in 1942, the journal provides a forum for discussion of science, science policy, research planning, the history of science, Māori research and Mātauranga Māori, freedom of information, and engagement between science and society. The publication moved to an electronic format and an editorial-board model in 2022. The association also presents four medals recognizing lifetime service, research achievement, sustained scientific contribution, and excellence in public communication. In 2025, Lucy Stewart and Troy Baisden held the association's co-presidency.
History
The New Zealand Association of Scientists began in December 1941 as the New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers. Its inaugural meeting took place at Wellington's Central Library Hall and attracted more than one hundred members. The organization was formed to promote the broader use of science and scientific methods for social welfare and to represent the interests of scientific workers. Economist, historian, public servant, and writer W. B. Sutch became its first president, although his association with the organization was brief because of wartime military service. World War II strongly shaped the association's early agenda. Its statements emphasized the opportunities created by wartime research and argued that the future of science had to be defended in the wider social and political sphere, not only within laboratories. From its beginning, the association also addressed the pay and status of science workers, including the particularly poor pay experienced by women. It deliberately remained separate from the trade-union movement, and in 1954 adopted its present name and registered as an incorporated society. Ernest Marsden became its patron that year. Over subsequent decades, the organization examined the position of laboratory technicians, conducted surveys, considered whether technicians should form a separate association, and compiled information intended to make New Zealand's scientific community easier to identify and connect. It promoted stronger government attention to science policy and highlighted the economic and social benefits of research. It also supported the spread of school science fairs as a national activity. The association's public-policy role became more pronounced during the 1970s. It discussed nuclear research, genetics, environmental protection, and threats to scientists' ability to speak freely. Equality for women in science became a sustained concern from the middle of that decade. Ann Bell became the first woman to serve as president in 1982, followed by other women leaders, although progress in the gender balance of the council was not always maintained. The association's later work on gender and science included contributions associated with former president Nicola Gaston. The NZAS took a strong interest in the restructuring of New Zealand science in the early 1990s, including the creation of Crown Research Institutes. The subject formed the focus of its 1993 conference. Decades later, the association again engaged with national research-system reform through its response to the Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways review led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Publishing has been a core part of the association's identity. A preliminary quarterly publication appeared in 1942, followed by the first New Zealand Science Review in December of that year. The journal initially combined association news and editorials with abstracts of recent research. Its development was periodically constrained by publication costs, volunteer editorial work, and post-war paper shortages. It was redesigned in 1970 and underwent another major renewal in the early 2000s under editor Ira Beu. Allen Petrey edited it from 2001 until early 2022. Two special issues published across 2019 and 2020 considered Mātauranga Māori. In 2022 the journal became an e-journal supported by an editorial board and a broadened remit concerning science in Aotearoa New Zealand. The association also maintains a program of conferences and awards. Its conferences have covered the National Development Conference, public-good science funding, the relationship between science and policy, participation in science beyond established institutes, and reform of the research system. Its four medals recognize lifetime service to science, high-quality research by relatively early-career researchers, sustained contributions to scientific understanding or public benefit, and excellence in communicating science to the public. The organization remains an independent voice on science policy, professional conditions, public responsibility, and the relationship between science and New Zealand society.
- 2025
Lucy Stewart and Troy Baisden serve as co-presidents
[1]The association's co-presidency was held by Lucy Stewart and Troy Baisden.
- 2022
Journal becomes an e-journal
[1]The New Zealand Science Review moved to an electronic format and established an editorial board.
- 2017
Co-presidency introduced
[1]The association added a co-presidency option to its governance structure.
- 2016
Research Medal renamed
[1]The Research Medal was renamed the Hill Tinsley Medal.
- 1991
Public Good Science Fund conference
[1]The association organized a conference focused on the Public Good Science Fund.
- 1982
First woman president
[1]Dr Ann Bell became the association's first woman president.
- 1954
Present name adopted
[1]The organization changed its name to the New Zealand Association of Scientists and registered as an incorporated society.
- 1942
New Zealand Science Review begins
[1]The association launched the New Zealand Science Review, which became its principal forum for science and science-policy discussion.
- 1941
Association founded
[1]The New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers was established in Wellington to promote science for social welfare and advance the interests of scientific workers.
Products and positioning
An independent, socially engaged scientific association focused on the public value of science, the interests and working conditions of science professionals, and informed debate about New Zealand's research system.
Peer-reviewed journal · 1942
New Zealand Science Review
The association's peer-reviewed journal, founded in 1942, is a forum for discussion of science and science policy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Its subject range includes research strategy, government science policy, the history of science, Māori research, Mātauranga Māori, freedom of information, science communication, and the relationship between science and society. It moved to an electronic format with an editorial board in 2022.
Science awards
NZAS Medals
The association's award program recognizes different forms of scientific contribution. The Marsden Medal honors lifetime service to science; the Hill Tinsley Medal recognizes outstanding fundamental or applied research by researchers within fifteen years of their PhD; the Shorland Medal recognizes major and sustained contributions to research; and the Cranwell Medal recognizes excellence in communicating science to the public.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Reshaping New Zealand's research system
New Zealand
The association organized a conference on possible solutions for reshaping the national research system.
- 2018Beyond the usual suspects
New Zealand
A conference examined science and scientific participation beyond the country's established research institutes.
- 1993Science-reform conference
New Zealand
The association convened discussion of the major reforms to New Zealand's science system, including the establishment of Crown Research Institutes.
Outcome. The conference placed the association's concerns about research organization and policy before the national science community.
Brand decisions
2022
New Zealand Science Review moves to electronic publicationGeneration changeBackground
The journal had faced recurring publication-cost and volunteer-editorial constraints over its history.
Action taken
The association moved the journal to an e-journal format and introduced an editorial board with a revised scope.
Aftermath
The publication continued as a forum for science and science-policy issues relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand.
1954
Adoption of the New Zealand Association of Scientists nameStrategyBackground
The organization had originally been formed as the New Zealand Association of Scientific Workers and had debated its role in relation to trade-union activity.
Action taken
It adopted the New Zealand Association of Scientists name and registered as an incorporated society, retaining an independent association model rather than becoming a trade union.
Aftermath
The new identity defined the organization as a broad scientific association concerned with professional, policy, and social issues.
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