I get the feeling that this might not go down well. But I noticed this on the ‘wires’ this evening and you really have to say: ‘why not?’

The New Zealand Government is launching a $1million advertising campaign next month in which the public will be asked to help identify the scientific challenges which should be focused on. The top ten ideas will become part of their National Science Challenges initiative which will receive $60 million over the next four years.

The relatively small amount of money belies the refreshing thinking behind it. It is an idea which raises its head above the parapet here occasionally but I fear we lack the gumption to do it. But we should. (Reverb my thoughts from last week about ‘Science and Society’ – isn’t this just the sort of thing it could be doing?).