On April 22, the world marched for science. Not quite as sexy or confronting perhaps as the plight of refugees in Syria, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement or global climate change. But the threats to science are just as real, with declining funding, lost jobs, and a belief among young people that science cannot deliver a career path.

I spent most of the Easter break doing what scientists call ‘service science'. In my garage, I ran experiments exploring an issue that is a recognised concern for society. The equipment was very simple and most of the research time was voluntary – for example, outside working hours.

That little story reflects a general reality. Scientists working in New Zealand today are poorly funded, have limited resources, routinely and willingly work voluntarily, and often work with low-quality or home-made equipment.

Society is the ultimate loser of that process. Innovation lives at the absolute core of our lifestyles, our economy, and our environmental quality. The decline in science funding in New Zealand should be an election issue in 2017.

Dr Ian G. McLean,
Associate Professor in Resource Management,
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.