Richard Bedford starts term as President of Royal Society

1 July 2015

Social scientist Richard Bedford starts term as President of Royal Society of New Zealand

Professor Richard Bedford starts a three-year term as President of the Royal Society of New Zealand today, taking over the role from Professor Sir David Skegg.

Professor Richard Bedford QSO, FRSNZ is Emeritus Professor at the University of Waikato and Professor of Migration Studies at the Auckland University of Technology (part-time). He is a specialist in migration research and since the mid 1960s he has been researching processes of population movement in the Asia-Pacific region.

He says it is a “huge honour” to be invited to take on the role.

“I think there is an increasing interest in government circles and more widely about what the social sciences can contribute to developing policy and understanding major changes that are occurring in our society, which means that the opportunity to be President of the Royal Society of New Zealand is an exciting and timely one.

“I wish to acknowledge the major achievements of Sir David Skegg, who has been highly pro-active in leading the Society in giving independent assessments on major issues facing New Zealand and gaining significant support for this role. I am keen to build on this.

“I have a personal interest in how we can address the issues that face not just New Zealand but also our neighbours – Australia, the Pacific and the Pacific basin. I look forward to working with the Fellowship of the Society to assist in addressing critical issues facing New Zealand and our region.

“Other areas of focus will likely be gaining wider recognition for the humanities and technology, dimensions of the Society’s mandate that tend to have a lower profile than the sciences, reviewing the membership structure of the Society and strengthening the engagement of the public with the work of the Society and the science and research sector.

“I also look forward to working with staff of the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Society’s Council as we move towards celebrating our 150th anniversary in 2017.”

Outgoing President Sir David Skegg FRSNZ says he is delighted to see Professor Bedford in this role. “Richard Bedford is one of New Zealand’s most respected senior academics. He knows the organisation well, having been a member of the Council - as well as a Fellow since 2000. I have every confidence that the Royal Society will flourish under his leadership.”

Professor Sir David Skegg is a distinguished cancer researcher and epidemiologist who led the University of Otago as Vice-Chancellor from 2004 – 2011.

ENDS

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