Concern as Waikato University allegedly proposes slashing back its science sector

The New Zealand Association of Scientists claim about 20 per cent of the school's science capacity will be lost.

That's on top of voluntary redundancies late last year.

The move is reportedly a bid to reduce a nearly two-million dollar deficit - in the school's 19-million dollar budget.

NZAS Past President Craig Stevens says these experts are needed to mentor the next generation of scientists.

He says we're going to see the impacts of climate change in the next decade, and will need science even more.