Why New Zealand must invest in the next generation of Antarctic researchers

The Spinoff

2 days ago

With political interests threatening to undermine conservation actions in Antarctica, it's more important than ever that New Zealand maintains its influence in the sphere – and this is a critical way to help ensure it will.
As climate change transforms Earth as we know it and geopolitics reshapes international relations, the governance regime that maintains peace in Antarctica is growing increasingly complex and consequential for New Zealand.
The 1959 Antarctic Treaty sets aside more than 10% of Earth's surface for peace, science and cooperation. New Zealand is an original signatory and has played an influential role in Antarctic science and politics over the past six decades.
Scientific knowledge provides the foundation for many Antarctic Treaty decisions. High-quality research is therefore essential for maintaining influence in this international forum.
But at recent Antarctic governance meetings, scientific arguments for much-needed conservation actions have been undermined by political interests.
Preserving Aotearoa New Zealand's influential voice in Antarctic decision making depends not merely on doing excellent science. Developing researchers who can navigate boundaries between environmental science, international policy and public engagement is critical.
We argue New Zealand risks losing its influence in Antarctic affairs if it does not adequately invest in the next generation of Antarctic researchers and prepare them to achieve real-world impact.
A second chance for long-term impact
In a pre-budget announcement in early May, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment confirmed a $49 million investment in the Antarctic Science Platform for a second seven-year period. The platform's overarching aim is to 'conduct excellent science to understand Antarctica's impact on the global Earth system and how this might change in a +2°C (Paris agreement) world'.
We believe achieving this goal requires developing a comprehensive understanding not only of biophysical changes, but also of how geopolitical tensions will evolve, how governance structures will adapt, and how society will respond to a warmer world.
Renewed government investment provides stability for the Antarctic research community. It is also an opportunity to transcend short-term thinking and build capacity for the future. However, achieving scientific ' excellence ' must not be constrained by traditional understandings of 'research impact'.
Publishing in high-end journals (often behind paywalls) is not enough. Researchers, including the next generation, must be supported to work across science, policy and societal interfaces.
Fostering the next generation
Early-career researchers are key to supporting New Zealand's ongoing leadership within Antarctic governance. They bring diversity to the scientific community and can offer fresh approaches and enthusiasm to long-standing challenges.
But in the context of intensifying Antarctic geopolitics, cuts to international budgets that threaten New Zealand's Antarctic programme and uncertainty about changes to the science sector, these researchers are often at the bottom of the priority list. Research shows that under global and national disruptions, early-career researchers are disproportionately affected.
This challenge is further compounded by constrained university budgets. Fewer PhD scholarships and diminishing opportunities for postdoctoral and permanent positions significantly narrow the career pathway for Antarctic researchers.
As recently completed PhD students, we have witnessed these funding cuts and institutional changes. We are concerned the opportunities that enabled our own development are rapidly closing behind us, creating a gap in Antarctic research expertise that will be difficult to rebuild.
To maintain scientific continuity and secure Antarctica's research future, supporting early-career researchers should be a priority. Investing today ensures the uninterrupted development of scientific leadership and institutional knowledge that is as important as the science itself.
The Antarctic Science Platform offers an excellent opportunity to foster a trans-generational pipeline. But is New Zealand going far enough in its efforts to upskill and support the next generation?
An early-career vision for Antarctic research
A group of early-career researchers met recently to discuss their concerns and ideas regarding the future of Antarctic research and its impact.
The group identified that beyond scientific training, we need more innovative pathways to make an impact, including policy secondments, media training, mentoring and trans-disciplinary collaborations. This would give early-career researchers opportunities to communicate with and understand non-scientific audiences.
Antarctic science funding in New Zealand is also currently biased towards biophysical disciplines. Yet knowledge of policy, geopolitics, stakeholder engagement and communication will be necessary to understand Antarctica's future in a +2°C world. The disbanding of social sciences in the Marsden Fund further exacerbates this imbalance.
It is essential to cultivate a collaborative, cross-disciplinary mentality where diverse expertise converges around complex problems. Currently missing are environments where small interdisciplinary cohorts of early-career researchers are guided by experienced colleagues to collaborate with policymakers or the general public.
Such communities could address pressing challenges through integrated approaches that no single discipline can achieve alone.
A flexible micro-funding programme could empower Antarctic early-career researchers to pursue professional development opportunities. Rather than restrictive funding to predetermined categories, this approach could support any proposal demonstrating a connection to New Zealand's strategic Antarctic priorities – whether for scientific advancement, policy training or participation in Antarctic governance forums.
Our vision of scientific 'excellence' involves engaging more critically with how we prepare New Zealand for future challenges and strengthen Antarctic leadership.
With a concerning exodus of young professionals (in research and across other sectors) overseas, New Zealand risks losing essential knowledge and expertise. Antarctica's future – including New Zealand's role in it – depends on carving out enduring and innovative pathways for the next wave of great minds.
The authors of this piece have all previously carried out research funded by the Antarctic Science Platform, but are writing in their personal capacity. The article builds on discussions at a recent Antarctic early-career researchers' workshop, but reflects the concerns and ideas of a wider group, including Julianne Burns, Lizzy Skelton, Rose Foster-Dyer, Matthew Tankersley, Rafa Santana, Pauline Barras, Martin Forbes, Alexandra Strang, Liv Cornelissen and Angela Garzia.