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Science in New Zealand Supplement to Salient, Vol. 28, No. 7. 1965.
Science In The Public Service
Science In The Public Service
In New Zealand more scientists work for the Public Service than for any other organisation. Fourteen departments employ more than 800 science graduates and each year the Public Service has to recruit over 100 scientists. The scope of its scientific activities means that the Public Service offers science graduates first-class career prospects and unequalled opportunities and challenges, including many projects not being studied by other research groups.
Careers for science graduates are divided into two main classes: research and servicing. Although scientists in the Public Service mostly work on applied research, opportunities for pure research are unequalled in New Zealand and, in some fields, up to overseas standards. Some of the most challenging problems arise in practical research, which is also worthwhile because it results directly benefit the community.
Scientists doing servicing work use their qualifications in such vital roles as weather forecasting and patent examing. The servicing scientist's abilities and training are vital to the modern community, because they supply services that laymen cannot give.
In addition, some graduates choose to go into Public Service administration, where their trained minds prove invaluable in the intricate and demanding task of managing some of New Zealand's largest enterprises.
In the Public Service the importance of the scientist is fully realised. He is not just a "back-room" boy hot an essential member of the organisation. This is reflected in the D.S.I.R., for instance, where all important executives are scientists, and in the State Services Commission (which is responsible for efficiency and economy in the Public Service), where one of the Commissioners is a scientist.
An Important Choice
A science graduate choosing an employer faces one of his most important research assignments. There is more at stake for a prospective scientist than for most people because his first choice may well determine the direction and success of his life's work. Science is a calling not just a job. Education for it represents a considerable investment in time, money and energy, which must pay dividends in achievement and satisfaction. To make such an important choice the prospective scientist must have all the facts about employment opportunities and he must use them to make a sound and informed decision. To help readers, give working for New Zealand's largest scientific institutions the consideration it deserves, the State Services Commission outlines on this page facts about science in the Public Service.
This article summarises the principal scientific activities of the Public Service.
D.S.I.R.: The largest scientific organisation in New Zealand, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research employs 500 scientists. Its research activities are conducted in 23 divisions.
The Animal Ecology Division at Lower Hutt assesses the economic value of native and introduced mammals and birds, and investigates their control or preservations.
The Antarctic Division coordinates research at Scott Base and Hallett Station, which includes studying aurora and air-glow, geomagnetism, the ionosphere, meteorology and seismology.
The Applied Mathematics Division (Wellington) provides a research and advisory service in branches of applied mathematics of value to New Zealand's economy.
The Industrial Development Division (Auckland) has four functions: (1) to provide a research service for industry; (2) to promote research and advances in technology and their application to industry; (3) to ensure industry's scientific and engineering problems are efficiently investigated; and (4) to act as a source of technical advice and information for industry, the armed services, local bodies, and government departments.
The Botany Division (Christchurch) covers all general aspects of plant life except the strictly economic.
The Chemistry Division (Lower Hutt), until 1964 the Dominion Laboratory, also has laboratories at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. Activities include long-term research; acting as a central laboratory for chemical, metallurgical and chemical engineering needs of government departments; and helping to raise the efficiency of industry. The technical work of the division is divided into four sections: (1) Pesticides, foods and drugs: (2) Metallurgy, chemical engineering, coal: (3) Inorganic chemistry, and cement and concrete: (4) Paint and petroleum, physical chemistry, and organic chemistry.
The Crop Research Division at Lincoln (Christchurch) investigates improvement of field and vegetable crops. There is a hop research station at Motueka.
The Entomology Division (Nelson) investigates, characterises and classifies insects.
The Fats Research Division (Wellington) conducts research on the fundamental nature of fats.
The Geological Survey (Lower Hutt) has accumulated a vast store of knowledge about New Zealand's geology and mineral resources.
The Geophysics Division (Wellington) includes the Apia observatory, where earthquakes and variations in magnetic elements are recorded and interpreted, and physical oceanogranhic data is recorded: the ionospheric geophysical laboratory at Christ-church: the geophysics laboratory. Lower Hutt: the geothermal laboratory. Taupo: Time Service. Wellington: magnetic survey, Christchurch: and the seismological observatory, Wellington.
The Grasslands Division (Palmerston North) is primarily concerned with breeding of pasture species: nucleus seed production and certification: ecology: and soil fertility.
The Institute of Nuclear Sciences (Lower Hutt) measures radioactive fallout and carries out carbon-14 dating. A radiation source is used to irradiate seeds and plants for crop improvement; to sterilise soil and plastics; and to try to improve the cool-storage keeping properties of apples.
The Oceanographic Institute (Wellington) investigates physical, geological and biological aspects of the oceans around New Zealand.
The Physics and Engineering Laboratory (Lower Hutt) covers many activities, ranging from maintaining primary electrical and radio standards to fundamental investigations into the physics of plant growth.
At the Plant Chemistry Division (Palmerston North) studies are made of the chemistry, nutrition and metabolism of plants. The influence of climate on crop yields is studied at the Plant Physiology Division, also at Palmerston North.
The Plant Diseases Division and the Fruit Research Division at Auckland assist farmers, fruitgrowers, nurserymen and gardeners to produce healthy crops and plant products.
At the Soil Bureau (Lower Hutt) New Zealand and some Pacific Island soils are studied.
Eleven research organisations, jointly financed by the Government and the industry concerned, with their own laboratories and staffs, are affiliated with similar institutions in other countries. They deal with meat, fertiliser, leather, pottery, laundry, dairy, wool (two), wheat, tobacco and hops.
Department Of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture employs over 150 science graduates on research into problems of soil, animal production, or livestock health, and on servicing or advisory work.
In the Animal Health Division graduates in veterinary science work on research into disease control and problems, and prevention of the entry of exotic diseases. Other are advisory officers.
Graduates in science, veterinary science, or agriculture, are employed in the Research Division, where most of the department's research work is carried out. Many projects are providing vital information for farmers on the influence of breeding, feeding and management on milk production, growth and reproduction. Animal health and diseases are also studied.
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In the Dairy Division graduates in science are employed as chemists
Graduates in science and agriculture work in the Farm Advisory Division, which advises farmers on the management of soils, crops and pastures, and on sheep and wool production, and carries out experimental work on its own farms and research stations.
Research in vegetables, berry fruits, the culture and diseases of vines, and on wine, is carried out in the Horticultural Division by graduates in horticulture and science. Graduates also serve as advisory officers.
In the Meat Division graduates in veterinary science help to carry out the department's responsibilities for meat inspection and hygiene.
Further Information
These articles only outline the facts about science in Public Service. If yon are interested in a career in one of the departments mentioned you should get in touch with the offices of the State Services Commission in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, the Commission's representatives in other towns, or the staff clerks of the departments concerned. Further information can then be supplied, questions answered, and interviews and visits arranged. So far you may not have seriously thought about working in the Public Service. Don't risk missing the chance to give full consideration to the scope and advantages of working for New Zealand's most important scientific institutions.
Forest Service
Scientific research is a major reason for the forest industry's success as a revenue earner.
The New Zealand Forest Service employs 50 scientists at the Forest Research Institute, Rotorua, and 7 at the Forest and Ranger Experiment Station, North Canterbury.
Research projects being carried out by the Forest Research Institute involve such questions as the strength and properties of New Zealand timbers, silvicultural practices, seasoning and treating wood with preservatives. Others are concerned with growth, forest soils, nursery techniques, tree genetics, the rehabilitation of cut-over forests, tree nutrition and health, and controlling disease-causing organisms
The Forest and Ranger Experiment Station surveys watershed conditions, studies afforestation on mountain lands and alpine grasslands, and carries out noxious animal research.
Meteorology
The Meteorological Service of the Department of Civil Aviation offers opportunity to participate in research and development in the atmospheric sciences. Graduates are also employed in forecasting.
Subjects of research include satellite meteorology, radar meteorology, micrometeorology, and ozone studies. In satellite meteorology, for instance, photographic and infrared radiation observations from Tiros satellites are used to investigate the structure of weather systems and study the heat balance of the earth-atmosphere system.
Navy
The Naval Research Laboratory at Auckland specialises in research of value to defence. It employs several scientific officers.
Marine Department
Scientists in the Marine Department work on fisheries research and management. Expansion in both tasks is creating particularly good opportunities for scientists ranging from biometricians to zoologists.
Marine fisheries research is mostly devoted to long-term projects with commercial applications, such as investigating the snapper population in Hauraki Gulf, or assessing the trawling potential of the Bay of Plenty.
Freshwater fisheries research contributes to the success of trout fishing, one of the finest recreations. It includes basic research on brown trout in five of the Rotorua lakes, and on the species and distribution of whitebait: and the study of the effects of DDT on fish and other stream life.
In the Health Department scientific officers work at the National Health Institute. Wellington, and the National Radiation Laboratory, Christchurch. In the former research is done in bacteriology and virology. The task of the Radiation Laboratory is detection and elimination of radiation hazards, and standardisation and calibration of radiation sources.
Wildlife biologists work in the Department of Internal Affairs One subject they are investigating is the hazard of birds at airports.
In the Justice Department science graduates are employed in examing patent applications and other duties. They are trained in patent law and practice.
Science graduates are employed in the Transport Department on study and research into traffic engineering.
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Some Public Service scientific institutions use equipment that is unique in New Zealand. An example is this Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer of the D.S.I.R., which records and deduces high-resolution proton structures of organic molecules. The nuclear resonance of fluorine, phosphorus, boron, and carbon-13, can also be studied, permitting investigation of a variety of organic and inorganic compounds.
Wider Horizons
These days science graduates have wider horizons than before, particularly in the Public Service. Those with broad interests especially those who work well with other people, can usefully employ their qualifications in occupations so far not regarded as suitable for scientists.
For instance Treasury needs investigating officers who have majored in economics or mathematics.
The science graduate prepared to take a broad view of his future can look for a career in External Affairs.
Management Services — an important branch of the State Services Commission in promoting the efficiency of the Public Service — employs people who can handle quantitative ideas or analyse facts.
And then there is the E.D.P. revolution. The Public Service is a leader in the use of computers. If has four now and two of the most modern on order There are some 40 Electronic Data Processing programmers in the Public Service but more are needed Graduates majoring in mathematics would do well to consider E.D.P. work in the Public Service. There is no better place for training and experience in this expanding field. Propects, conditions and salaries are excellent.
Finally, those who believe there ought to be more understanding in top administrative positions of science and what it can achieve, can do something about it by making their careers in general administration. The Public Service needs good graduates in all disciplines for this work.