Institute of Environmental Science

The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute and government-owned company specializing in science for the benefit of people and the environment. ESR provides critical services in public health, forensic science, food safety, and water quality, operating as the national reference center for infectious disease surveillance and genomics. The organization is a key partner to the New Zealand Ministry of Health and international bodies like the WHO, providing advanced diagnostic testing, forensic analysis for the justice system, and research into environmental health risks. ESR's expertise in pathogen genomics and environmental monitoring was instrumental in New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, ESR developed STRmix, a world-leading forensic software used globally for DNA profiling and interpretation.