Summarised by Centrist
In a move to prioritise economic productivity, the government has slashed all humanities and social sciences funding under the Marsden Fund, redirecting it to disciplines like physics, engineering, and biomedical sciences. Minister Judith Collins said, “Real impact on our economy will come from areas such as physics, chemistry, maths.”
The decision reflects the government’s commitment to high-tech innovation despite backlash from the Greens. They decried the move as ideological, accusing the government of silencing critiques of inequality. Collins dismissed these objections, noting the new focus ensures taxpayer money funds practical, high-impact research rather than ideological projects.
