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Dr. Karen Cronin

 


Karen has a background in environmental management, social research and communications. She joined ESR in 2008 after a career in local and central government, and working for an international NGO. She leads the Science, Technology and Society research cluster in the IRFS group, and has been involved in the development of the Asia Pacific STS Network.

Areas of interest 

  • Environmental management and sustainability
  • Science policy decision-making
  • Risk governance and risk communication
  • Public engagement, particularly through 'dialogue' methods
  • The social processes around technology development and transfer
  • Public policy and social discourse around biotechnology, nanotechnology and future food technologies
     

Professional positions and appointments

Chair, organising committee for NZ Science Policy Studies Conference, forthcoming, 2012
Chair, organising committee for workshop on social science and climate change, “Degrees of Possibility – igniting social knowledge around climate change” Dec. 2010
Associate Editor, Journal of the Royal Society of NZ , 2010-
Member International Advisory Board, Asia Pacific Science Technology and Society Network, 2010-
Co Founder and Inaugural Convenor, Asia Pacific Science Technology and Society Network 2008-09
Co Founder and Inaugural Committee Member, NZ Society for Risk Management 2001-04
Member (the World Conservation Union) IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) 2009-
Member IUCN Commission on Environmental Education and Communication, 1996 – 2006
Co Convenor NZ Committee of CEC Members 2004
Member of OECD international working party which produced member country guidelines on risk communication 1998-2001.
Member of the NZ Government Delegation to the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Nairobi, Kenya 1997.
Member of the New Zealand Environmental Council, 1985 - 1987 (Ministerial appointment)

Recent projects

2008-12. ‘Coming to the Table – engaging government, science, business and community stakeholders in sustainable decisions on future food technologies to improve New Zealand’s economic and technological outcomes’ - Science Leader for 4 year FRST funded project (C02X0801) using dialogue methods to identify social and market context for future food technologies and integrate with strategic business planning and science investment processes.
2010-11 ‘Degrees of Possibility- igniting social knowledge around climate change’ – Convenor of project to develop a NZ Social Science Research Agenda for Climate Change. Workshop Dec 2010 and report [forthcoming] June 2011.
2010-11. ‘Innovation, Risk and Decision-making’ - Leading an ESR Capability Fund (CF) project to identify new methods for risk decision-making that can be applied in NZ.
2010-11. ‘Science Communication’ - Member of team for research project for the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, investigating trends in science communication practice.
2010. ‘Credible Scientific Advice’ - Lead a project for the Ministry of Health on the provision of credible scientific advice and risk communication strategies for public /environmental health policy.

Radio presentations

Is the international food system in crisis?  (Radio New Zealand National - Ideas, Sunday 5 June 2011)
Chris Laidlaw talks to Oxfam New Zealand's Campaign and Advocacy Director John Stansfield, Otago University Professor of Sociology Hugh Campbell, and Dr Karen Cronin of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research.
LATE 05:  Innovate Food (panel discussion, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Thursday 1 July 2010)
Ray Mcvinnie, Rob Whitbourne and Dr Karen Cronin examine the future of food production in New Zealand and the world.

Publications  

  • papers accepted for publication in international, externally refereed scientific journals, series or books
  • papers in local, internally or editor-refereed journals, series or books (note: local refers to the distribution, not to the country of origin)
  • conference papers, posters, abstracts
  • invited keynote or plenary presentations


ESR SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS

 
 

PRE-ESR SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS (year by title)

Cronin, K. Deliberative Dialogue for Sustainable Biotechnology Governance in New Zealand  Report prepared for the University of Waikato research programme on Socially and Culturally Sustainable Biotechnology in New Zealand, funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (Contract UOWX0227), May 2008.

Cronin, K. Deliberative Dialogue: Summary report on deliberative dialogue engagement practices, internationally and in New Zealand Report prepared for the University of Waikato research programme on Socially and Culturally Sustainable Biotechnology in New Zealand, funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (Contract UOWX0227). April, 2008

Cameron, J., Nicholas, B., Silvester, K. and Cronin, K. 2008 ‘The Navigator Network': a New Zealand futurewatch case study Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 20:3, 271 – 285

Cronin, K. New approaches to discussing science Chemistry in New Zealand. Vol 72 No2 April 2008-05-06 P. 75

Cronin, K. The APEC High Level Policy Dialogue Workshop on Public Perception of Agricultural Biotechnology
held in Lima Peru, 3-5 October, 2007 Paper presented at debrief seminar for Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Ministry of Research Science and Technology, Wellington 14 November 2007

Cronin, K. Future food – issues and observations on the social context Paper presented to the NZ Food Safety Authority Conference Wellington, 26 September 2007

Cronin, K., DuPlessis, R. and Scott, A. Key research themes for biotechnology and society Report prepared for the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, based on a research meeting organised by the @ AROBAS Network on science, technology and society research University of Canterbury, Christchurch 19, 20 March 2007

Nicholas, B. and Cronin, K. Navigation between science and policy. Article on the MoRST Navigator Science Future Watch Programme. Association of Women in Science Newsletter, Issue 1 June 2007 p.2

Cronin, K. Risk communication and dialogue -developing new communication practices to respond to
public perceptions of agricultural biotechnology NZ expert paper presented at the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue Workshop on Public Perceptions of Agricultural Biotechnology Peru, October 2007

Cronin, K. Issues mapping: exploring hidden landscapes in the genetic engineering debate Paper presented at the Society for Social Studies of Science 4S Conference, Vancouver, November 2006.

Cronin, K. and Nicholas, B. Navigating Towards our Future Four scanning reports on emerging technologies and the global context for science from the Navigator Network, a futurewatch programme for the Ministry of Research, science and Technology (co author), 2006-07

Cronin, K. Are Scientists from Mars and Journalists from Venus? Panel paper presented to the Science Communication Conference Held at the National Museum of NZ Te Papa Wellington 1 September 2005

Cronin, K. From biotech to nanotech – enhancing deliberative processes for science and technology innovation Paper presented to the UN International Conference on Engaging Communities Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 14-17 August 2005

Cronin, K. The news media, science and social conflict Introductory paper presented at a seminar commissioned by the MORST Dialogue Programme, held at Victoria University of Wellington, 20 May 2005

Cronin, K. Science Communication and Dialogue – lessons from the GM debate Seminar series for university science students on results of a research project under the MORST Dialogue Programme February - March 2005

Cronin, K. Communicating Risks and Hazards to New Zealand Organisations, Managers and People.  Paper presented to the Continuity Forum Conference, Wellington Convention Centre, Wellington 30 September 2004

Cronin, K. and Jackson, L. October 2004 Hands Across the Water – engaging stakeholders in the New Zealand biotechnology debate Research report prepared for the New Zealand Ministry of Research,
Science and Technology, Wellington, New Zealand. Published by VicLink, Victoria University of Wellington.

Cronin, K. ‘We’re not talking about that here - the construction of meaning and reality in biotechnology decision-making Paper presented at the Society for Social Studies of Science/ European STS Conference, Ecole des Mines, Sorbonne, Paris August 2004

Cronin, K. ‘Words of War’-conflict and communication between biotechnology scientists and the public Paper presented at the Society for Social Studies of Science/ European STS Conference, Ecole des Mines, Sorbonne Paris August 2004

Cronin, K. Conflict or consensus? – some insights into the GE debate in New Zealand Article for the NZ Women’s Studies Association WSA newsletter July 2003

Cronin, K. 2003. Chapter 6 The Ethics of Risk Communication and Chapter 9 Communication and Consultation – some observations on the ERMA New Zealand experience in “Sharing the Future – risk communication in practice” Janet Gough (Ed) Centre for Advance Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ, September 2003

Cronin, K. and Jackson, L. From damage control to dialogue: environmental conflict management in New Zealand Canadian Geography Association Conference, Victoria University, Victoria BC, Canada, May 2003

Cronin, K. Communication and Consultation – a review of ERMA NZ procedures Paper presented to the conference of the NZ Society for Risk Management, held at Te Papa, Wellington 2-4 October 2002

Cronin, K. Facts, Formulae and Fundamentals – a brief review of the theory of risk communication Paper presented to the Conference of the NZ Society for Risk Management, held at Te Papa, Wellington, 2-4 October 2002

Cronin, K. Towards Dialogue in Science Communication - some observations on the discourse between scientists and other stakeholders Paper presented at the 8th Pacific Rim Biotechnology Conference, Auckland, 19 November 2002

Cronin, K. and Marchant, J. Towards dialogue in science communication: some observations on the discourse between scientists and other stakeholders Research report commissioned by the Royal Society of NZ, Nov 2002.

Cronin, K. Tribalism, trust and motivation – a community case study of the social discourse around genetic engineering Paper presented to the Sociological Assn. of Australia and NZ, SAANZ, Conference, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 5-7 December 2002

Cronin, K. Communication Skills for Muggles – some thoughts on science and the wider world, and the role of science communicators Paper presented at the Science Communicators Network Meeting organised by the Royal Society of New Zealand at Te Papa, Wellington, 22 November 2001

Cronin, K. Science versus Suspicion: The Art of Communicating Science and Technology Paper presented at The 3rd Corporate Communications conference (Institute for International Research), Wellington, 29-30 May, 2001

Cronin, K. The Ethics of Risk Communication Paper presented at the Centre for Advanced Engineering Conference on Risk Communication conference held at Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand 29 – 30 November 2000

Cronin, K. Effective employee communications during a period of restructuring Paper presented to IIR Conference on Employee Communications, Wellington, August 1995

Cronin, K. Survey of Corporate Communications Departments in NZ In house paper for Wellington City Council, presented to International Assn. Business Communicators, Wellington, October 1995

Cronin, K. The Power of the Media: How does it influence public opinion? Panel presented to IIR Conference on Public Consultation Processes, Wellington, December 1994

Cronin, K. Riding the Green Wave - the Media and the Environment Paper presented to the Environmental Education Conference “Our Common Future - the Way Forward”, Natural Heritage Foundation, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand 26-30 August 1991

Environmental Education, Training and Public Awareness.  Internal paper prepared for the report of the NZ Government Delegation to the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Nairobi, Kenya.  August 1990

Cronin, K. Incorporating Sustainability in Resource Management Law Paper presented to the Australian Environment Institute annual conference, Melbourne, Australia, October 1989

Cronin, K. Internal working papers for the Resource Management Law Reform Programme, Ministry for the Environment: National Policy mechanisms, May 1989. Monitoring provisions for resource management law, April 1989 Objectives and Purposes for Resource Management Law, March 1989

Green, W. and Cronin, K. The NZ Nuclear Impacts Study AMBIO Sweden. Vol 19. No 7. 1989

Cronin, K. Ecological Principles for Resource Management Public research report for the Ministry for the Environment, July 1988.

Cronin, K. Engineering Social Development - The Role for Social Impact Assessment in Development Planning Paper presented to the Engineers for Social Responsibility Conference, New Plymouth, New Zealand, 14 February 1988

Cronin, K. Published working papers for the Resource Management Law Reform, Ministry for the Environment, November 1988 including: The definition of sustainability; Practical implementation of the sustainability objective; The relationship between sustainability and other objectives; Intrinsic values; Implementing the sustainability objective in resource management law; The national interest in resource management.

Cronin, K. National Emergency Planning Internal paper for Ministry for the Environment, May 1988

Cronin, K. Co-author. Packaging and the New Zealand Environment - issues and options Policy report for the Ministry for the Environment, December 1987

Cronin, K. Social Impact Assessment and Social Policy - an overview Paper presented to the Australia and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) Congress, Palmerston North, New Zealand, January 1987

Cronin, K. Co-author. Social Impact Assessment and Social Policy in New Zealand Research report for the New Zealand Royal Commission on Social Policy, by the NZ Social Impact Assessment Working Group, November 1987

 

 

 
Contact Information

Dr. Karen Cronin

Dr Karen Cronin
Science Leader
Kenepuru Science Centre
PO Box 50348
Porirua
New Zealand
Ph: 04 914 0651