23 Facts About Peter Gluckman

Sir Peter David Gluckman was born on 8 February 1949 and is a New Zealand scientist.

Peter Gluckman is a founding member and was inaugural chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice, and is president of the International Science Council.

In 1988, Peter Gluckman was appointed Professor of Paediatric and Perinatal Biology and was head of the Department of Paediatrics.

Peter Gluckman obtained a DSc in 1989 from the University of Auckland.

Peter Gluckman then served as dean of the university's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences whilst heading the Research Centre for Developmental Medicine and Biology.

In 2001, Peter Gluckman became the founding director of the Liggins Institute, and, a year later, director of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development, hosted by the University of Auckland.

Peter Gluckman stepped down from both positions in mid-2009 to assume his role as the first Chief Science Advisor to the New Zealand Prime Minister.

In 2007 Peter Gluckman was appointed programme director for Growth, Development and Metabolism at the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, where he is currently chief scientific officer.

Peter Gluckman holds honorary chairs at National University of Singapore and the University of Southampton.

Peter Gluckman has made research contributions to the fields of perinatal physiology and biology, developmental neuroscience and neuroprotection, paediatric and experimental endocrinology, as well as at the interface between ecological, developmental and evolutionary biology as applied to human health.

Peter Gluckman is the only New Zealander elected to the Institute of Medicine of the United States National Academies of Science, and is a Fellow of Academy of Medical Sciences of Great Britain.

In June 2009 Peter Gluckman was appointed as the first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Peter Gluckman established departmental science advisory roles in major departments, and this group has been increasingly used by Government as a formal process of advice on matters relating to evidence and policy.

Peter Gluckman was given the additional appointment of Special Science Envoy for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2010 to assist his role in science diplomacy.

Peter Gluckman has explored extensively the principles of science advice through a blog, lectures, and in the scientific press.

Peter Gluckman established the Small Advanced Economies Initiative as a mechanism to bring together policy makers from small, advanced countries where science and innovation are core tools of development, to work collaboratively on shared issues and ideas.

In June 2018, Peter Gluckman stepped down from his role as the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, and was replaced by Juliet Gerrard.

In March 2020, Peter Gluckman became the director of the newly established Koi Tu: The Centre for Informed Futures, a University of Auckland Faculty of Arts research centre.

In November 2022, Peter Gluckman criticised the National Party leader Christopher Luxon's proposed Young Offender Military Academies, citing the failure of the previous Fifth National Government's boot camp programme for young offenders.

Peter Gluckman is a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, an honour bestowed on just 42 New Zealand-born scientists since the Society's establishment in 1660.

In 2001, Peter Gluckman received New Zealand's top science award, the Rutherford Medal.

Peter Gluckman was promoted to Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to medicine, in the 2008 New Year Honours.

Peter Gluckman received the American Association for the Advancement of Science Award for Science Diplomacy, in 2016.