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From the inaugural Chair

News & events

News & events

From the inaugural Chair

13 April, 2023

I congratulate the MacDiarmid Institute on its longevity in such a competitive environment. Looking back, I believe it was because from day one all of its members worked as a team, worked in pursuit of excellence, shared high ethical values and had a strong sense of social responsibility. Further, the modus operandi was collegial. In these ways, the Institute rapidly built up an enviable track record on which, as its survival shows, it has clearly subsequently built further upon.

A key figure in all of this was Sir Paul Callaghan. There is no doubt that his goals of academic excellence and economic relevance, coupled with his charisma and charm, were a source of inspiration for the Institute. They were also a source of admiration for internationally renowned scientists, local politicians, local businesspeople, and university administrators alike.

Had he read the above, Paul would have chided me for once again going over the top. He would, however, have strongly endorsed my next remarks, which is much of the success was due to that first group of Institute members who over its first five years shaped its structure, culture and ethos. Here I would like to especially acknowledge Richard Blaikie, Shaun Hendy, Kate McGrath and Jeff Tallon.

The Institute was born out of the fusing of two CoRE (Centre of Research Excellence) bids from Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) into one. The only two universities in New Zealand, by the way, who have each produced a Nobel Laureate. The fact that the two universities were prepared to act in this way is remarkable and it is appropriate to thank them both for being prepared to do so. Later, like most of the CoREs, it involved scientists from most other New Zealand universities. Such co-operation has not gone unnoticed and is a major reason why the CoRE concept still finds favour.

From day one all worked as a team, worked in pursuit of excellence, shared high ethical values and had a strong sense of social responsibility.

Ian Watson Founding Chair of the MacDiarmid Institute

The merger also underscored the vital role played by both Canterbury and VUW in universities establishing a research culture at all. Until the mid 1960s, students at the master's level at any university college were rare and PhDs even rarer. In the 1940s a group of reformers including academics from Canterbury and Victoria began agitating for a greater research component which took until the mid 1970s to take hold, at least to the point where scientists like Paul Callaghan chose to make their careers in New Zealand rather than overseas. It took until the mid 1990s for research to be better though still inadequately funded through such instruments as the Marsden Fund and, in 2002, the CoREs themselves. Here, acknowledgment of the Royal Society of New Zealand is in order.

As someone who was, in the early 1960s, a colleague one of the reformers, Hugh Parton and, in the 1970s and ‘80s a colleague of one of the best practitioners of the result of their dream, Paul Callaghan, it has been a great thrill to see what this Institute has achieved thus far. There is, of course, more to be done. But of all the institutes currently in place, I believe this one is the best placed to further advance that dream. Congratulations again.

Ian Watson was the foundation chair of the MacDiarmid Institute from 2002 to 2009. At the time of appointment he was Principal of the Albany Campus of Massey University, a post he held from 1992 until his retirement in 2003.
Between 1988 and 1994 he was the inaugural Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research) of Massey University.
Before that he was an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biophysics at Massey University whose research interest was in the Thermodynamics of Solutions.
Ian was the Deputy Chair of the Foundation of Research, Science and Technology between 1992 and 1996, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry.
In 2004 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree by Massey University.
At a personal level, Ian and his wife, Patsy, recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. They have three children and five grandchildren.

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