12 Jun 2018

Juliet Gerrard named as Chief Science Advisor

9:41 pm on 12 June 2018

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she's blown away by her new science advisor's achievements and experience, and hopes she'll inspire women to enter the field.

The new Prime Minister's chief science advisor Juliet Gerrard, fourth from the left, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern beside her. Also pictured members of  Prof Gerrard's research team.

The new Prime Minister's chief science advisor Juliet Gerrard, fourth from the left, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern beside her. Also pictured are members of Prof Gerrard's research team. Photo: RNZ / Katie Scotcher

Auckland University professor Juliet Gerrard has been named as the Prime Minister's new chief science advisor.

She replaces Sir Peter Gluckman, the first government-appointed chief advisor, who served in the role for almost a decade.

Professor Gerrard trained at Oxford University, before moving to New Zealand 21 years ago to work as a scientist at Crop and Food Research.

She worked at Canterbury University in the late 1990s as a lecturer and a director before moving north to Auckland University in 2014.

Professor Gerrard said she was absolutely thrilled about her new role - and wanted to put particular emphasis on using social media to make science more accessible.

"Working alongside all of the quite dry, academic reports to do another release to the public to just explain not just the conclusion, but also the essence of the debate that got us there," she said.

Prof Gerrard's areas of interest cover biochemistry, health agriculture, food science and medical equipment design.

As well as being the second chief science advisor, she is also the first woman to take up the top position.

"The times are changing ... I hope my appointment will go some way towards encouraging ambition in young female scientists.

"And it's true, that for a long time women were quietly advised to choose between a science career or children and that's no longer true - and girls, if you decide to change career paths, I don't think you need to choose between ambition and babies in politics either," she said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was blown away by Prof Gerrard's achievements and experience.

"She is, of course, first and foremost a scientist - but while Sir Peter was the first man to take on the role, Juliet is the first woman now to take on the role.

"In an area where we can only hope to lift the amount of young woman and girls entering into the sciences you will have that additional role of playing role model and so I'm grateful for that too," she said.

Ms Ardern also thanked outgoing advisor Sir Peter who was appointed in 2009 to provide former Prime Minister Sir John Key with a direct line to scientific advice.

The new Prime Minister's chief science advisor Juliet Gerrard.

The new Prime Minister's chief science advisor Juliet Gerrard. Photo: RNZ / Katie Scotcher

During his time in the role, Sir Peter has pushed for the drinking age to be raised and more recently de-bunked meth testing guidelines for houses - finding that there's never been a documented case of someone getting sick from third-hand exposure to meth smoke.

Sir Peter said he would be leaving the role in good hands at the end of this month.

"Trusted scientific advice can and will make for a better New Zealand, and a better NZ within a better world is the key issue.

"I think that, with Juliet, with the science advisory system and with a government who remain committed to reinforcing that system, we're in good shape," he said.

Prof Gerrard begins her new job next month.

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