Clear Vision from the End of the Earth

NATURE INDEX | AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND CLEAR VISION FROM THE END OF THE EARTH A pragmatic and deliberate approach to research funding yields impressive results, while New Zealand’s geography makes it a perfect natural laboratory for Earth scientists, writes Linda Vergnani.

hile seismologist Martin Reyners In collaboration with New Zealand’s Earth- Canterbury sequence, as it is known, included works in his office, he is quietly awed quake Commission, GNS Science runs the thousands of quakes ranging from magnitude that 23 kilometres below him the Aus- country’s earthquake, volcano and geological 3 to 7.1. The most destructive, the magnitude W tralian Plate is slowly colliding with hazard information network, GeoNet. They 6.2 Christchurch aftershock, killed 185 peo- the Pacific Plate, a process that could trigger manage and monitor hundreds of seismo- ple when it hit on 22 February, more than five an earthquake at any moment. graphs across the country, using real-time months after the initial 7.1 magnitude Darfield “It’s a wonderful laboratory for studying data to relay hazard information to officials earthquake that triggered the sequence. Rey- tectonic processes,” says the researcher, of his and, via the GeoNet website and app, keep the ners says the sequence caused damage worth Lower Hutt workplace, near Wellington in public updated. “My job is understanding what between NZ$40 to $50 billion, equivalent to New Zealand. “We can sit above a subduction kinds of earthquakes we might expect and then more than 15% of the country’s annual GDP. zone, like we have on the North Island, with alerting the authorities so they can plan and Because the area was so well instrumented, instruments on land and see what is happening inform people about them, and design build- the sequence was one of the best ever docu- between the plates. That is not possible in any ings to withstand them,” says Reyners, a fellow mented. Reyners’ team showed that the other subduction zone almost anywhere else in of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Christchurch earthquake’s destructive power the world, including Japan,’’ says Reyners, who Even seismologists had not anticipated a — buildings were torn apart — was caused by works for GNS Science, one of New Zealand’s series of earthquakes that shook the coun- the “very unusual, strong rock” under the city, seven Crown Research Institutes. try’s South Island during 2010 and 2011. The which produced some of the most powerful GILLIAN NEEDHAM/GETTY IMAGES GILLIAN NEEDHAM/GETTY

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AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND | NATURE INDEX vertical acceleration ever recorded for an a hotspot for biodiversity,” Blaikie says. than two decades, which has had a major influ- earthquake that size. “That finding resulted in Like many countries, the New Zealand gov- ence on informing Australia’s world-first policy a Nature Geoscience paper,” says Reyners. ernment encourages its scientists to pursue that cigarettes be sold in plain packaging. The The paper was among dozens published by applied research that contributes to the econ- university’s current research involves public GNS scientists on the geophysics, seismology, omy, environment and society. Central to the health and marketing researchers looking at tectonics and other aspects of the sequence. government’s National Statement of Science interventions to help achieve the government’s While New Zealand is small and isolated Investment 2015-2025 are research excellence goal of making the population essentially on the outer edge of the Pacific, many of its and impact. “All of our science should have a smoke-free by 2025. research strengths are rooted in the benefits strong line of sight to benefits for individuals, and challenges of its unique geology and businesses or society,’’ the statement reported. GLOBAL POLICY natural environment. In the Nature Index the But some critics maintain the government’s Cardiovascular research led by Mark Rich- country ranked 30th overall in 2015, just above policies are now weighted too heavily towards ards, director of the university’s Christchurch Chile and Saudi Arabia, countries with much applied research, particularly since science Heart Institute (CHI), has had a profound larger populations. In Earth and environmen- funding was centralized in 2012 under a super impact on public health. In 1996 Richard’s tal sciences, New Zealand ranked 15th. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employ- team identified a marker for diagnosing heart country’s proximity to Antarctica has also led ment. They claim the strong focus on practical failure, a peptide known as NT-proBNP. They to a strong showing in climate science. outcomes has hampered independent, blue-sky pioneered an intervention for heart failure Richard Blaikie, deputy vice-chancellor research. Contributing to a special 2015 issue on that was guided by measuring the levels of of research and enterprise for the University the future of science in New Zealand in the Jour- NT-proBNP in the blood of patients. An inter- of Otago, says that, despite its population of nal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, retired national follow-up study of 35 centres that just 4.5 million people, New Zealand pro- interdisciplinary scientist and futurologist John adopted the strategy found it resulted in 35% duces more scientific publications per dollar Robinson wrote this had “limited science to pre- fewer deaths in patients under 75. input than any other country. The University scribed channels and blocked innovation”. New Zealand’s focus on research that ben- of Otago was the country’s top-performing efits the economy or society was cemented in institution in the index last year, followed by GOVERNMENT STRATEGY 1992 when the government established Crown the University of Auckland. Blaikie, who is a professor of physics and still Research Institutes, government owned busi- Blaikie describes one of the country’s publishing research, says: “In the university sec- nesses that conduct scientific research, but research advantages as the “Lord of the Rings tor, we are mandated through legislation to be must also remain financially viable. effect”. Just as its unique and diverse environ- a research-led institution.” Ian Graham, general manager of research at ments have been a boon for filmmakers such The University of Otago’s focus on research one of these institutes, GNS Science, says: “We as Peter Jackson, “likewise, for the geological that has an impact is not just about commer- are kind of a strange, hybrid research institute. and environmental scientists it’s a really, really cialisation, he says. “It’s about connecting to We operate as a company, we have a board, we interesting place to be.” Geographically long enterprise, be that a social, community, a health have to return a financial performance in rela- and narrow, the country has many interest- or economic enterprise,” says Blaikie, adding tion to return on equity and sometimes we pay ing geological features, a range of climates that the university’s research “aims to influence a dividend to government.” GNS acts as a con- and unique biota. “We have the eighth larg- not just local but global policy.” sultancy and conducts research in resources, est marine exclusive economic zone in the For example, the university has had a strong including geothermal power and petroleum world and our ocean waters are recognized as research focus on tobacco control for more exploration. It receives around a third of its

Christchurch, seven minutes after the 6.2 magnitude aftershock struck the city at on 22 February, 2011. The quake sequence was one of the best documented in history.

NATURE INDEX | AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TIM NAISH GNS SCIENCE

ANDRILL rig operating in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Andrew Cowie from GeoNet installing a seismograph in a damaged shed after an earthquake.

CROWN INSTITUTES COLLABORATE The share of domestic versus international collaborations of three Crown Research Institutes. Their contribution WFC 7.86 WFC 5.63 WFC .46 to the index over the past 12 months is shown as weighted AgResearch's top fractional count (WFC). international partners were Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf in Germany and the KEY GNS Science NIWA AgResearch University of Hong Domestic 37.75% 8.65% 65.89% Kong. International 62.25% 91.36% 34.11% * data from July 2015 to June 2016

core funding from government and competes the international ANDRILL (Antarctic Geo- year, Naish was part of a team, led by GNS’ against universities for applied science and basic logical Drilling) Science Committee says “We Richard Levy, that discovered just how sensitive research funding from other sources. have a big international reputation for Antarc- ice sheets are to changes in carbon dioxide. The Although Crown Research Institutes are tic paleoclimate research.” New Zealand oper- paper was published in the Proceedings of the run as businesses, their research must strive ates Scott Base on Antarctica’s Ross Island. National Academy of Sciences. Because climate for excellence, and involve collaborations with change is a global issue, Naish says the research other research organizations, both locally and PALEOCLIMATE RESEARCH generated by his centre has become more policy internationally (see graphic). GNS has formed Naish’s group is helping answer the big question relevant in the last 10 years. strong partnerships with universities in fields of how the Antarctic ice sheet will contribute But Naish says there is a lack of targeted such as Antarctic science, tectonics and climate to global sea level rise under different global funding from the government for future Ant- research. Three institutes feature in the top ten warming scenarios. Victoria University of Wel- arctic research. “This will definitely affect our New Zealand institutions in the Nature Index lington, which ranked third in New Zealand in ability to make long-term strategic decisions, in 2015: GNS Science, the National Institute of the index last year, has a 60-year tradition of including participating in international col- Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and geological investigations in Antarctica, devel- laborations,” he says. While there was a boost in AgResearch. In fields such as Antarctic science, oping unique drilling technology to extract the last budget for supporting Antarctic opera- tectonics and climate research GNS has formed geological records and ice cores, he says. “Other tions and infrastructure, such as renovations of strong partnerships with universities. Research countries say to us, we want to work with you.” Scott Base, there was no long-term “planning on the southern-most continent is another of Naish’s team works closely with colleagues in security” for Antarctic researchers. “We find it New Zealand’s strengths. Timothy Naish, direc- Germany, the United States, the United King- really frustrating that we have this high qual- tor of the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria dom, Australia and Italy and is also developing ity of research, but we can’t get the government University of Wellington and a former chair of strong relationships in Japan and Korea. This excited about it,” Naish says. ■

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