Hullo ---intro from Met Soc president---

This has come across my desk from Paul White,
Earth Science rep to the RSNZ council.
A very important issue that you may consider
responding to - and it touches on some of the
points raised by Geoff Austin at the recent AGM.

Please feel free to make known the existence of
this electronic petition to your colleagues.

Sincerely
Richard Turner
President
Meteorological Society of New Zealand.

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Subject: (Fwd) Open Letter site

From: "Paul White" <P.White@...>
Date sent: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 08:52:09 +1300

Hi folks.
Please find attached a note that could be circulated to the scientists
in your society, if you wish.

Paul White.

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Open letter to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology

Although scientists are the essential component of the science system,
their views on the CRI research environment and its future direction are
largely unknown to policy makers.

This open letter (http://www.psa.org.nz/science.asp), hosted by the PSA,
expresses scientists concern that the current research structures and
funding strategies are jeopardising New Zealand's long-term core
research activity and capability.

If you support the content of this open letter, please add your
signature and comments, and communicate the open letter web site to
other scientists. The site will close in February 2004, unless the
number of submissions to the site dictates otherwise.

Given sufficient support, the open letter and list of signatories will
then be presented to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology.
Comments will be grouped by theme and published anonymously in an
appendix to the letter.

Contributions from Universities and private sector scientists which
enlarge the focus of the open letter are welcomed.