N.Z. Losing Big Proportion Of Physics Graduates

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31128, 3 August 1966, Page 11

N.Z. Losing Big Proportion Of Physics Graduates

•'The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, Aug. 2.

New Zealand loses between a quarter and a half of all its physics graduates to pdsts overseas, according to a survey carried out by a committee of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

The major causes of the losses were conditions of employment, isolation and disparities between salaries in New Zealand and overseas, the report said.

The survey showed that: Of the 151 students who graduated M.Sc. or B.Sc. honours in physics at New Zealand universities from 1947 to 1960, only 73 (48 per cent) were known to still be in New Zealand. Nine (6 per cent) could not be traced, and 69 (46 per cent) had left the

country, presumably for

good. Of the 251 students who graduated B.Sc. with stage three in physics from 1947 to 1954, 64 (25 per cent) had left New Zealand without returning, 109 (43 per cent) were known to be still in New

Zealand and 78 (31 per

cent) could not be traced. Of the 124 physicists with at least a year’s academic or professional experience overseas, who had been employed in New Zealand

universities or Government departments since 1947, 67 (54 per cent) had left the country.

With an average of only 12 M.Sc. and B.Sc. honours physics graduates annually from the universities to meet the needs of the universities themselves. Government research establishments, sciencebased industry and teaching, the loss of half the number to overseas posts was very serious, said the report. More than half the physicists with overseas experience who had worked in New Zealand had subsequently been lost and permanent gains by recruiting overseas had not compensated for the loss. Of the 67 physicists who left, 38 (57 per cent) had doctorates, 12 (18 per cent) had master’s degrees and 17 (25 per cent) bachelor’s degrees. Full figures for overseas graduates coming to university or Government posts in NewZealand could not be obtained, but at least 33 out of 58 were known to have left. “The committee cannot stress too highly the adverse effects of the loss of these most able and highly qualified physicists,” said the report. “Not only does the country lose their individual contributions, but their research teams lose the stimulation that would make their own efforts more effective.

“The quality of the best

minds in the country sets the limit to the total effort; the loss of good leaders who are not replaced by equally good leaders is serious.” Other factors causing physicists to leave, said the report, were the lack of appreciation and stimulus in the community, the inadequate provision for participation in overseas conferences and the lack of sabbatical leave for scientists outside the universities, the difficulty in obtaining adequate clerical and technical aid and the effect of import and customs restrictions in delaying the delivery of even small items of equipment.