Shaun Hendy
@hendysh.bsky.social
Physicist, complex systems, ex-COVID modeller, he/him Author of "The Covid Response" https://www.bwb.co.nz/books/the-covid-response
NEW: Is there a 'crisis' of public trust in science? It can feel that way — with attacks on research in the US and growing rejection of vaccines. I investigated for @nature.com - and found some surprises. My feature article is out today and a short🧵here www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Have people stopped trusting science? The data tell a surprising story
Some say there’s a global crisis of trust — but research reveals where the real problems lie.
nature.com
New @bmj.com piece by me & @martinmckee.bsky.social on the need for the UK's public health institutions to prepare to speak up in the event of a populist government set on undermining our population's health protections. The tea leaves aren't that mysterious. www.bmj.com/content/393/...
Academics and scientists are absolutely meant to fill this role in society. Ethics and integrity at fundamental to our work, we cannot simply stand by while these things are ignored in broader society
Scientific Workers Medal: Awarded for essential and significant contributions to science through application of technical skill and knowledge in a technical support role. scientists.org.nz/scientific_w...
Please familiarise yourself with the instructions before submitting. The closing date for all applications is 5pm Monday 3rd August 2026. Find out how to apply here --> scientists.org.nz/how-to-apply
Cranwell Medal: This award is made annually to a practising scientist (or group of scientists) for excellence in communicating science to the general public, in any area of science or technology. scientists.org.nz/cranwell/
Hill Tinsley Medal: Awarded for outstanding fundamental or applied research in the physical, natural or social sciences published during the year of the award or the preceding three calendar years. scientists.org.nz/hill-tinsley/
Shorland Medal: Awarded to an individual or to a team in recognition of major and continued contribution to basic or applied research that has added significantly to scientific understanding or resulted in significant benefits to society. scientists.org.nz/shorland/
Marsden Medal: Awarded for a lifetime of outstanding service to the cause or profession of science, in the widest connotation of the phrase. scientists.org.nz/marsden/
Researchers and NZ science communicators- why not apply for these gongs, with ethical expert assessment committees? I treasure the one I was awarded a few years back.
NZAS - New Zealand Association of Scientists@nzscientists.bsky.social · 2mo agoWe're pleased to announce applications are now open for NZ Association of Science's 2026 Medals. The closing date for all applications is 5pm Monday 3rd August 2026. The medals are ... scientists.org.nz/Awards (1/7)
We're pleased to announce applications are now open for NZ Association of Science's 2026 Medals. The closing date for all applications is 5pm Monday 3rd August 2026. The medals are ... scientists.org.nz/Awards (1/7)
Technically it’s 100 years since the *government* starting funding science in New Zealand; the public was funding science here long before the government got in on the act
Bioeconomy Science Institute@bioeconomyscience.bsky.social · 3mo agoDid you know this year marks 100 years of publicly funded science in Aotearoa New Zealand? #100YearsOfScienceNZ we're celebrating the discoveries, innovations and impacts that have shaped NZ for a century. Explore the stories and discover how science continues to make a difference: bit.ly/4v4tJd7
500 years ago, people starting building pā all over northern NZ—fortifying their settlements with rows of palisades, cut from nearby bush. Why? What were pā defending—or trying to say? The trees themselves, combined with mātauranga Māori, tell a story. www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-... 🇳🇿🧪 #archaeology
The pā builders
Five hundred years ago, people starting building pā all over northern New Zealand—fortifying their settlements with rows of pointed palisades, cut from the surrounding forests. Why? What were pā defen...
nzgeo.com
Increasing risk of climate extremes is more than bigger versions of normal conditions: more intense heatwaves, droughts, floods. Variance is changing, distributions are skewing & tails are getting fatter. And events can combine in space & time to have compounding impacts. More in this week's post 👇
Compounding crises and the colour of tennis balls
Nine signals on climate extremes, ecological justice, academic rejection, and an unexpected legacy (Nexus Notes #28)
predirections.substack.com
It's day 14 of #MenstrualHealthAwarenessMonth, and today's topic is a big news story from this week about the rebranding of an important condition. Say goodbye to #PCOS and hello to #PMOS! Long thread incoming... And it gets personal! 1/16 #PeriodFriendlyWorld
"For too long, the university has ignored the wisdom of the donor class and hired based on academic excellence. Regrettably, this has led to the underrepresentation of discredited viewpoints in elite higher education." www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/wer...
We’re Diversifying the University by Hiring More Crackpots
“For too long, the university has ignored the wisdom of the donor class and hired based on academic excellence. Regrettably, this has led to the underreprese...
mcsweeneys.net
It's day 4 of #MenstrualHealthAwarenessMonth, and today we ask: what do you call your period? Here are just a few of the English euphemisms I found online. Time of the month. Shark week. Having the painters in. A visit from Aunt Flo. Surfing the crimson wave. Code red. #PeriodFriendlyWorld 1/16
Any one else get an invite to this? Weird feeling to be personally targeted by a misinformation campaign sponsored by the US government. Ping @sanjanah.bsky.social
Want to do a PhD @universityofotago.bsky.social on climate impacts on #NZ vertebrates w/ Michael Knapp, @plubbe.bsky.social, @atennyson.bsky.social & me? Comes w/ fully funded scholarship & will investigate climate extinction risks using genomics & niche modelling evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
Advance copies of 'The Valley' by Asher Emanuel have landed in our office! 'This is journalism at its finest – immersive, meticulous, honest and brave.' – Rebecca Macfie 'The Valley: Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City' arrives in May. Preorder today. bwb.co.nz/books/the-va...
It's almost as if sustained policymaking with this aim could have steadily reduced our reliance on fossil fuels over the past couple of decades www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
30,000 extra cycling trips in two weeks as Christchurch ditches cars for fuel crisis
Cycling in Christchurch has jumped 34% in two weeks as the fuel crisis forces commuters to rethink how they travel.
thepress.co.nz
Re-upping this thread from 2yrs ago given the judgement in my case: Julian Batchelor 'wholly unsuccessful' in defamation claim against TVNZ www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609... As Prof @hendysh.bsky.social noted as well, billionaires behind far-right's lawfare lead to widespread chilling effects. #nzpol
Julian Batchelor ‘wholly unsuccessful’ in defamation claim against TVNZ
Julian Batchelor’s defamation claim against TVNZ has been thrown out.
stuff.co.nz
Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa@sanjanah.bsky.social · 2y ago🎯 This tracks. Big reason Disinformation Project folded was because of incessant legal challenges thrown our way. This paper terrorism by country’s far-right, & disinfo actors supported by, tellingly, a foreign billionaire resident in NZ, linked to big oil. Researchers don’t have comparable funding.
So pleased to see that the defamation claims against @sanjanah.bsky.social and @tvnz.bsky.social did not succeed. It’s still very concerning to see billionaires attempt to stifle public discourse through the courts. Who would want to put themselves through that? www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
Julian Batchelor ‘wholly unsuccessful’ in defamation claim against TVNZ
Julian Batchelor’s defamation claim against TVNZ has been thrown out.
stuff.co.nz
I’m calling for a moratorium on Large Lingerie Models
Dan@danxduran.bsky.social · 5mo agoUnless this thing can collect up, wash, dry, fold and put my washing away, I'm not sure what the point of the AI bit is
Good article on meningitis and the UK outbreak that has caused 2 deaths Meningitis cases have recently been confirmed on campuses in NZ too Reminder that in NZ U25s in "close living situations" like halls of residence can get MenB and MenACY vaccines FREE. Most uni health services can provide this
Alasdair Munro@apsmunro.bsky.social · 5mo agoMy new post looking at the meningococcal outbreak in south east England What is meningococcus? What’s happened in this outbreak? What’s the deal with the vaccination program?
Watch the trailer for 'Garrison World: Redcoat Soldiers in New Zealand and across the British Empire' by Professor Charlotte Macdonald, shortlisted for the BookHub Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction in the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2026! 🎥 @reverie_nzl #booktrailer #bwb
NZ released the COVID inquiry (phase two), with four main lessons and recommendations calling for better integration of disease surveillance systems, expansion of epidemiological modelling capability, and more structured decision-making frameworks during a crisis theconversation.com/covid-inquir...
COVID inquiry phase two: 4 main lessons to improve NZ’s future pandemic resilience
The second COVID inquiry report reinforces that pandemics are not only health emergencies but also social crises, requiring attention to cohesion and equity.
theconversation.com