Dr Samuel Mehr of The Music Lab won the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize for his work on how humans perceive music. Photo: Matt Crawford / Royal Society Te Apārangi
A recent government science funding announcement has not impressed one of the country's top scientists, who says the country's best researchers are being driven overseas.
Cognitive scientist Dr Samuel Mehr says New Zealand's top minds will leave if the science funding system doesn't change. He was awarded the Prime Minister's MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize in 2023 - a top honour for New Zealand researchers - for his work on how humans perceive and create music.
Earlier this month, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti announced a single, independent board, called Research Funding New Zealand, will be established to make most funding decisions.
But,Samuel Mehr says New Zealand has lost its reputation as a hub for innovation, and with other countries offering millions of dollars in grants and relocation fees, the best researchers will being driven overseas.
