Global fish experts could boycott Te Papa over scientist job cuts

Monday, 1 April 2019

International scientists are threatening to boycott collaborations with Te Papa if the museum does not reinstate its axed scientists.

A prominent American fish specialist has rejected Te Papa's request to use one of his photos in an exhibition, saying he was 'so angry with your administration over 'staff restructuring' that I refuse to assist the museum in any way'. In his emailed response, copied to dozens of fellow scientists, he called on colleagues to 'join me in this boycott'.

The photo Te Papa wanted to use was of the Himantolophus stewarti - a deep sea fish that the scientist had named in honour of Te Papa fish expert Andrew Stewart, who is one of two world-leading scientists made redundant in the museum's controversial restructure.

One of the colleagues copied into the email response was California Academy of Sciences emeritus chair of aquatic biology, John McCosker, who worked with Stewart on the Fishes of New Zealand project. He said Stewart was a font of knowledge and he was shocked to learn of his axing.

**READ MORE:

* Te Papa seeking mollusc specialist after axing world-leading expert

* 81 scientists call for radical rethink of NZ museums

* Te Papa restructure risks loss of irreplaceable science expertise - critics

* Te Papa slammed by 30 international experts over restructure making scientists redundant

* World-leading science experts made redundant in Te Papa restructure**

'To lose him would be a tragedy for the world's community … If Andrew is released from the staff there, there will be a gap in the knowledge that will be irreplaceable. You need now more than ever a continuous record of knowledge of life on your island, because it's changing so rapidly.'

Stewart has appealed his redundancy and is awaiting final confirmation. While McCosker understood the budget pressures facing museums, they should find another way to cut costs. If Stewart's appeal was rejected, the fish science community would have to reconsider collaborating with Te Papa,  he said.

'They may discover that we may not be that willing to host scientists that want to come and visit our museums. Why should we, if you treat your own people that way?'

Thirty international fish experts have already petitioned Te Papa against its 'unwise' restructure, which they say will cause 'unavoidable decline' in its world-class fish collection.

New Zealand scientists have also slammed the museum's restructure. Post-doctoral fellow David Winter was one of 81 scientists who signed a petition calling for a radical rethink of New Zealand museums, which said Te Papa was not researching and conserving its collections well enough.

Winter, who has a background in mollusc research, would have considered applying for the mollusc curator job Te Papa has advertised, despite having just got rid of its world-leading mollusc researcher, Bruce Marshall.

However, out of solidarity with Marshall, he decided not to apply. Winter said the museum's restructure was 'completely inexplicable'.

'It makes me think twice about starting collaborations with Te Papa, which is pretty harsh, because there is very good research there and very good people working on them.' 

Te Papa head of science Susan Waugh was aware an international scientist had declined the museum's request to use one of their photos.

'That's disappointing but we respect their decision,' she said. 'Collaboration between scientists and scientific institutions is of great value, we would be surprised and disappointed if any institution moved away from a collaborative approach.'