Scientist's sacking makes NZ look 'immature'

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The sacking of top climate scientist Jim Salinger is an "extreme embarrassment" for New Zealand, The Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science says.

Dr Salinger, whose work contributed to a Nobel prize, is taking a personal grievance against the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) over his sacking.

He was supposedly dismissed for ignoring a new Niwa policy against speaking publicly without prior approval.

That he was fired for comments to the media on weather and climate issues was ironic , said John Lancashire, president of the institute, which has a membership of around 700 scientists.

Dr Salinger had an outstanding reputation as a commentator with integrity and the common touch, Mr Lancashire said.

His overwhelming reaction to the sacking was "one of extreme embarrassment for New Zealand".

"We are exposed as an immature, bureaucratic and small-minded country who cannot manage creative people," Mr Lancashire said.

"You only have to read recent comments in the international science journal Nature to realise that the world's scientific community is not impressed."

He hoped the international reaction might prompt a more thoughtful response from the country's science bureaucracy, which said it would not comment on an employment matter.

- NZPA