82nd Annual Thomas Cawthron Memorial Lecture

How can science can better impact national and global decision making?

At a time when the world faces a range of global challenges — from climate change and geopolitical tensions to rapid technological disruption — the need for science that truly serves society has never been more urgent. But science itself is under pressure. Trust is faltering, and political divisions are creating deep challenges to the social contract between science, government, and the public — just as we need it most.

This year’s lecture will explore how science can better inform and influence decision-making at both national and global levels — and what must change for that to happen.

In New Zealand, we’ve long celebrated ingenuity, but relying on outdated ideas and underfunding science is leaving us behind. Other countries are investing in science and innovation to solve pressing problems, while New Zealand risks falling further behind if we don’t take action.

Globally, the science community faces its own set of challenges. Science diplomacy — essential to tackling global issues like climate change, pandemics, and biodiversity loss — must evolve. To rebuild trust and make a real impact, science needs to be more transparent, more connected to society, and better integrated into the decisions that shape our collective future.

Keynote speaker Sir Peter Gluckman will share his vision for how science can be a trusted partner in building a healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable world. Dr Kate Hutson, a leading researcher at Cawthron, will follow with an exploration of how her groundbreaking work on emerging aquatic disease threats connects communities and decision makers.

Join us for an evening of insight, challenge, and inspiration as we examine how science can better serve society — in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the globe.

Presenter Bios

Sir Peter Gluckman
President of the International Science Council (ISC,) Director and Trustee of Koi Tū: Centre for Informed Futures, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of Auckland.

Sir Peter Gluckman is President of the International Science Council (ISC,) Director and Trustee of Koi Tū: Centre for Informed Futures, an independent non-partisan thinktank and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of Auckland. He was foundation chair of the International Network of Government Science Advice (INGSA) (2014-2021).

Sir Peter originally trained as a pediatrician and biomedical scientist. Between 2009-2018 he was first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was made a Knight of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009, a member of the Order of New Zealand (2015) and received the Rutherford Medal in 2001. He was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (1992-2001) and founding Director (2001-2009) of the Liggins Institute of the University of Auckland. He is a fellow of the Royal Society (UK), the Royal Society of New Zealand, The Academy of Medical Sciences (USA), the National Academy of Medicine (USA), the Pacific Academy of Sciences, the World Academy of Sciences.

He has published over 750 scientific papers and has written extensively on the science-policy and science-diplomacy interfaces and co-authored both technical and popular-science books. He leads work on the factors affecting social cohesion and how societies respond to new technologies and chairs the NZ government’s reviews of Universities and the Science system. Amongst international awards he was awarded Singapore’s highest scientific honour, the Presidential Science and Technology medal in 2021 and the American Association for Advancement of Sciences Science Diplomacy award in 2016.

Dr Kate Hutson
Senior Biosecurity Scientist – Aquatic Animal Health, Cawthron Institute and Adjunct Associate Professor at James Cook University, Australia.

Dr Kate Hutson leads the Aquatic Animal Health team at Cawthron and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at James Cook University, Australia. She was raised by zoologist parents who instilled a life-long curiosity about nature, biodiversity, and animal behaviour. She founded the Marine Parasitology Laboratory at James Cook University where she led research in fish parasitology, coral disease ecology, and disease management in aquaculture. She joined Cawthron in 2019 and championed the build of New Zealand’s first dedicated Aquatic Biocontainment Facility to advance research on aquatic pests and diseases. Kate contributes to national biosecurity including the development of import health standard regulations and marine disease surveillance.

Event MC

Lees Seymour
Cawthron Board of Directors Chair

Lees Seymour, of Ngāti Hikairo affiliation (Kāwhia Moana – West of Hamilton), has a strong commercial background, having spent the last 20 years in senior roles leading significant forestry organisations. Since 2020, Lees has focused on providing consultancy services to Government and a range of local and globally based forest and wood product organisations. Lees is a qualified forester with an MBA from Massey University and further business qualifications from the Insead Business School in France. Lees has extensive board experience including chairing the New Zealand Forest Industries Council, and as a board member of a number of forest industry organisations and director at Wakatū Incorporation.

Event format

Doors open at 6.30pm. The Annual Lecture will begin at 7pm sharp. Please allow yourself time to arrive at the venue and be seated by then. A Q&A session will follow the speaker presentations. The lecture will formally conclude at 8.30pm, and refreshments and a light supper will be served for those who wish to stay and mingle. 

This event is free to students and under 25-year-olds. A suggested $20 koha is requested for general admission, or pay what you can afford.

Disclaimer: All registered participants will be added to the Friends of Cawthron email list. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time.