New Zealand Research Information System
Update – Issue # 9

11 August 2020

In this newsletter we focus on the new COVID-19 research database that we’re coordinating through the NZRIS programme, on behalf of the sector. The database is a single source of data about research activity and funding relating to the COVID-19 response.

The research database was set up in early May, with data requirements aligned to NZRIS so that once NZRIS is up and running the data can be easily incorporated into the bigger system going forward.

We’ve currently got more than 200 entries about COVID-19 related research. While we are always happy to see more added, we’d also love to get more information about many of the entries already in there. So whether you’ve already contributed and can provide more detail, or if you haven’t yet contributed and want to include details of your project in the database – please get in touch with us at nzris@mbie.govt.nz and we’ll send you a simple online form to complete.

In this issue we cover:

• What we’ve learned so far – what’s the COVID-19 research data telling us?
• Why the COVID-19 research database is so important for our country
• How the database has enabled better collaboration for one researcher  

We also provide you with an update on membership of the NZRIS Stewardship and Oversight Group

What we’re learning from the COVID-19 research database

Image: MBIE has produced a report on COVID-19 research activity in New Zealand.

With 229 entries about COVID-19 research projects and funding awards, the COVID-19 research database is providing a number of insights into what’s happening in COVID-19 related research in New Zealand.

The database has grown substantially since it began, from 68 research activity records in early May, to 229 (66 of these funding records) today.

As Amber Flynn, NZRIS Programme Manager says, while the database isn’t  a comprehensive measure of all COVID-19 research activity in New Zealand (given that contribution is voluntary), it does show that the New Zealand research sector is extremely active in this area.  

“The database was originally created by Universities New Zealand and passed on to the NZRIS team at MBIE to coordinate centrally as the type of data being collected is very similar to what will be held in NZRIS. It’s not only useful in helping researchers and funders coordinate what they’re doing, it provides a unique view into what work was initiated during New Zealand’s lockdown and since then,” she says.

MBIE’s Science and Innovation Team has produced a report summarising key elements of New Zealand’s COVID-19 research response.

New Zealand's COVID-19 research response [PDF, 253KB]

In addition, here are some insights taken from the COVID-19 research database:

• Research focusing on the COVID-19 health response in the areas of diagnostics, treatment, vaccines and public health interventions made up over a third of the projects submitted.
• There was a significant amount of research in the areas of epidemiology which includes modelling, with 23 separate projects submitted. A number of these projects directly informed the government’s response efforts, while several of the 16 technology projects were focused on the country’s needs for personal protective equipment.
• Projects into the social and humanities areas of COVID-19 made up a quarter of all research submitted to the database. In this area there are a number of projects focused on the effects of lockdown on mental health and well-being of people of all ages.
• Other research as defined by the submitting researcher or research team made up approximately 13% of the total submissions, with many of the projects focusing on the impact of the government response and how this may impact recovery.
• The Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato is leading a number of projects focusing how Māori/ iwi/hapū/whānau have responded to COVID-19 on all levels.
• The majority of submissions were made by the university sector with researchers based at the University of Waikato providing approximately a third of these submissions.  Based on the reported research activities, the University of Auckland, University of Otago, and University of Waikato lead New Zealand’s COVID-19 research at this stage.
• Only a third of the submissions indicated that funding was provided for projects. The funding sources included specific COVID-19 funding sources for example the Health Research Council, the Auckland Medical Research Fund, or the MBIE COVID-19 Innovation Acceleration Fund. Other funding sources included existing government funds like the National Science Challenges and internal funding from the research organisation.  
• As at 22 July, MBIE had awarded $20 million, the Health Research Council $3.8 million, and the Auckland Medical Research Foundation very close to $0.5 million. 

If you’re a researcher or funder working in the COVID-19 space, get in touch us with at nzris@mbie.govt.nz so we can include your data too.

Why the COVID-19 research database is so important for our country

The new COVID-19 research database is a valuable tool to help avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and replication of findings.

That’s according to Professor Gary Evans, MBIE’s Chief Science Advisor, who says an article by University of Canterbury researcher Sarah Beaven provides excellent insights into ways to address maximising research opportunities, maintaining and improving research quality, increasing end-user engagement, while all the while managing escalating research activity to mitigate the ethical risks posed to impacted populations.

“In my opinion the approach outlined by Dr Beaven helps to avoid research convergence where there is a surge in research activity following a disaster, and where the research is focused in particular fields that are directly related to the crisis. Often what happens is researchers start to work in areas that aren’t their main area of speciality, which can create double-ups, too much of a burden on a particular group (such as the subject of the research) and also can result in some research not being of the quality it needs to be,” Gary says.

“Something like the COVID-19 database, allied with NZRIS, is exactly what’s needed to assist in avoiding this happening. As a country with limited resources we don’t want disparate groups working in an uncoordinated way. It also allows us all to see where the gaps are in terms of what we haven’t funded,” he says.

Dr Bronwen Kelly, Deputy Chief Executive of Universities New Zealand, who initiated the national database, is also delighted that MBIE is now managing the database. She believes that New Zealand was one of the first countries to set up something like this, and that one positive point of difference is that the data is all publically available.

“I think we should be really proud of ourselves. As far as I know NZ was one of the quickest countries to get something like this up and running, and we’ve gone further than many other countries in making the data publicly available. Transparency is one of the fundamental principles of this exercise, and has been key to its success.”

Database creates connections for Waikato University senior lecturer

Dianne Forbes - Waikato University lecturer.

One of the best parts of the COVID-19 research database has been the ability to find out about other researchers’ work at the “very beginning stages”, according to Dianne Forbes, Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato.

“As a researcher, it is so easy to keep our heads down and go about our work without looking around at other projects that are happening at the same time. Sure, we all read the published literature, and attend conference presentations when we can, but we rarely get to hear about work that is at the very beginning stages. The COVID-19 research database tells us what people are planning, as well as what they are further down the track with,” she says.

Dianne says she was excited to see the “sheer number and spread of projects in the database”, and the fact that every time she checked more had been added.

“It is heartening to know that research in NZ is so very active and responsive to current events, across multiple disciplines”

Dianne is leading a research project on university students' experiences of online learning as a result of the pandemic, and she was able to use the database to ensure she wasn’t duplicating work already being done, and connect with researchers undertaking similar work. 

“When logging our project I checked to see what others were doing to ensure we were not duplicating efforts, and that our project had a distinctive focus. In doing so, I discovered projects by colleagues with some similarities, and was able to connect with other researchers to find out more about their work; to share our work; and to enter new collegial relationships. As a result of these conversations, we'll be following and citing each other's work, and we are even talking about putting together a seminar series and journal special issue based on projects that are aligned so that we can all pool our findings and look at what it all means for the development of our field.

“In short, anything that connects researchers and research efforts, and keeps everyone informed in the spirit of openness, collegiality and collaboration is a brilliant move! Thank you to MBIE and to the NZRIS team for this initiative.”

Changes to Stewardship and Oversight Group

Left: Greg Rossiter, right: Craig Jones.

NSOG has two new members – Greg Rossiter of AgResearch and Dr Craig Jones of Stats NZ.

Greg replaces Paul Hosking, providing representation from AgResearch and the CRI sector. Greg is Technology and Digital Services Director for AgResearch, and has a strong background in delivering major change projects and has held numerous IT leadership roles in New Zealand and overseas. He’s also well versed in the open data environment, which is a key factor in the development of NZRIS. The pilot project that AgResearch ran for NZRIS in 2019 also means that Greg can bring these key insights into the needs and requirements as they relate to crown research organisations to NSOG.

Craig is currently Deputy Government Statistician and Deputy Chief Executive - Data System Leadership at Stats NZ. He brings a wealth of perspectives to NSOG, including research organisations, research funding, data and information management. He’s also highly experienced in data governance within an open data environment.  He is currently a board member for Data Ventures, and has worked in numerous senior management roles in the government data, knowledge and statistics sectors, both in New Zealand and Australia.

The next NSOG meeting will be held in August, and we’ll include an update in our next newsletter.