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Press Release – Te Papa
As Te Papa seeks to modernize its operation, some have suggested that the museum could jeopardize national collections or fail to fulfill its role in scientific research.
Te Papa Managing Director Geraint Martin says inaccurate claims and speculation raise unfounded and unfounded fears.
"The museum has made significant investments in science and collection care over the last few years," says Mr. Martin.
"Te Papa is one of the major research centers taxonomy of the country, and collections are at the heart of this work. In the future, we will continue to take better care of collections and we will continue to focus on high quality research.
Numerous data show how collections support high quality scientific research
Marsden Fund, the first national blue sky research fund, because of the quality of research
D & # 39; Other organizations commission $ 700,000 worth of scientific research from Te Papa per year, which employs 5 more researchers than Te Papa's permanent staff. The museum spends $ 250,000 a year on the acquisition of new scientific collections, including field science expeditions
Te Papa science curators publish about 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers each year.
Year
Te Dad made an investment of $ 11 million in Taiao Nature, the largest investment ever made in science education at Te Papa and in the bigges t new investment in the museum during his life.
million. Martin says the museum has taken significant steps in recent years to improve the quality of collection care and modernize its approach.
"Te Dad has focused in recent years on raising the level of care of collection.A new collection policy is in place and, for the first time, the museum has strategies in each of its five collection areas, which have been developed in consultation with specialized staff and are of vital importance in defining the standards of care and priorities for each collection area. Implementing them, "says Martin
" Preserving heritage is a rapidly evolving field, and museum science in the modern era requires skills such as the analysis of science and technology. DNA, scanning electron microscopy and 3D spatial analysis. "
" To preserve the past, we must evolve over time. " Inaccurate proposals on staffing levels are useless and simply wrong.
The proposal that the museum had submitted to staff proposed to move from 15 collections managers to 11. These roles cover the five areas of collection: science, Maori maatauranga, history, art, and the Pacific.
"In 2012, there were seven managers of scientific collections, and there are currently five.In the meantime, we added new roles, such as a DNA specialist, and built a laboratory of Genetics and an old DNA lab The way we look after collections and use them for research is changing, and Te Papa is changing to reflect that. "
" Te Papa has strong leadership scientist at all levels Martin says:
On Te Papa's advice: Sir Peter Gluckman, former Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister and one of the nation's most respected scientists, along with the United States. Ecologist Rob Fenwick
Dr. Dean Peterson, former Chief of Science, has just taken up a new position of Director of Strategy and Museum Performance – he previously held senior positions at NASA, in Antarctica New Zealand, at Marsden Fun d and Callaghan Innovation
Waugh, former scientific curator and one of the leading national experts on the ecology of seabirds.
M. Martin says that national collections are spread across many institutions and work with etwork is vital. After the Royal Society recommended that New Zealand's scientific insights work together on national taxonomic collections, the National Working Group on Taxonomic and Systematic Collections was formed and chaired by Dr. Dean Peterson of Te Papa
. Legislative mandate to take care of collections and develop them, and measures relating to the care of collection are the subject of annual and verified reports.
"Te Papa's board of directors and leadership are very clear about our role as custodians of these collections. That's why we are looking for new ways to break through their secrets, and preserve them for future generations. "
Content is from scoop.co.nz
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