RIP Jim Flynn

Stuff reports:

Professor James (Jim) Robert Flynn, an internationally renowned psychology and politics professor and free speech advocate, has died.

The University of Otago Emeritus professor died on Friday, aged 86.

He developed what is now known as the “Flynn effect” which to describes the sustained increase in IQ test scores in populations from one generation to the next.

His work led to national attention. He has been profiled by Scientific American, Newsweek and written about in the New York Times.

I studied at Otago University, where he was of course very well known. He stood for New Labour and the Alliance several times. A charming and intelligent man.

His academic work is regarded highly internationally. Ironically his final publication called In Defence of Free Speech: The University as Censor was itself censored by the publisher who reneged on publishing it due to concern about liability from hate speech laws.

Condolences to his family and friends.