Royal Society of New Zealand

OUR HISTORY We've been exploring, discovering and sharing new ideas for a long time, in a tradition formalised in the 1600s. Pre-New Zealand Institute In 1660 Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle and John Wilkins get together with other thinkers of the time to discuss ideas and test out their theories. They started the Royal Society London to formalise this work, with the patronage of King Charles II. Over the years other Royal Societies started up, eg Edinburgh where James Hector came from, who will be integral to starting our organisation. The various Royal Societies operate independently from each other. In 1769 the Royal Society London funds James Cook and Joseph Bank’s expedition, on which they reach New Zealand and meet M?ori (who discovered New Zealand around 1280). Hector then comes to New Zealand in 1862 to do the Geological Survey of Otago and becomes an indispensable advisor to government on science, technology, medicine and commerce. He starts the colonial museum and laboratory, observatory, meteorological department, among many others. The New Zealand Institute to Royal Society of New Zealand Hector, with the help of William Travers MP, starts the New Zealand Institute via an Act of Parliament in 1867 for the study of science, art, philosophy and literature. They publish people's ideas, observations and research in the Transactions and Proceedings. Changes are made in 1903 to democratise the organisation and involve more members in decision making. Then the name is changed to Royal Society of New Zealand in 1933. We focus down on science in the 1965 Act, and add Social Sciences, Technology and later Humanities in the 2012 update to the Act. Today we are highlighting our M?ori name Royal Society Te Ap?rangi, and promoting knowledge more broadly as many of the biggest issues we face are multi-disciplinary. Our role We support New Zealanders to explore, discover and share knowledge. To prepare for our biggest challenges, we need evidence based information that will help us to understand the issues and make good decisions on what to do. This is why exploring and creating knowledge, sharing that knowledge and celebrating it has been, and always will be, critical to a thriving New Zealand. We do this through public outreach, education, and by supporting the research community. We also provide advice and information to government and the public on issues of public concern. We celebrate those at the top of their fields with medals, awards and prizes; and provide standards of ethics and professional behaviour which our members have to abide by. Our experts are brought together to make transparent, effective decisions about who gets research funding and access to learning opportunities. They also help us provide evidence based independent advice to the public and government. We are an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation. People can join us as friends, affiliated members, professional members or be elected as Fellows or Companions. OUR FUNCTIONS We advance and promote research and scholarly activity, the pursuit of knowledge. Our act talks about science, technology and humanities. In practice that includes engineering, applied science, and social sciences; and effectively the pursuit of knowledge in general. We foster a culture that supports science, technology, and the humanities by: raising public awareness, knowledge, and understanding advancing education. We will encourage, promote, and recognise excellence. We support infrastructure for professional development. We maintain a Code of Professional Standards and Ethics. We provide expert advice on important public issues. We do all other lawful things conducive to advancement and promotion of research and scholarly activity.