The Government's proposed changes to the science sector have raised a few eyebrows among the nation's scientific community.

The Government aims to merge seven Crown Research Institutes into three public research organisations - and creating another focused on AI. 

It's also closing Callaghan Innovation, impacting about 355 staff. 

Auckland University professor Richard Easther says this is a significant upheaval - and it raises plenty of questions.

"The challenge here, I think, is that they want to bring out major changes in the way these organisations are structured. But that's going to cost money and there's no clarity about where the money to do this is going to come from."

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