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A long-time chair of the politics department, he was best known internationally for his research on the “Flynn effect,” a substantial and sustained increase in intelligence test scores from about 1930 to the present.
Born in the United States in 1934, he went from 1967 to 2017 in college, including three decades as head of the policy department.
He also published a series of books on a variety of topics, from intelligence to American foreign policy.
Professor Flynn received the University’s Distinguished Career Research Medal and was an honorary doctorate of science from Otago.
He was also a member of the Royal Society of New Zealand and received the Aronui medal.
Professor Harlene Hayne, Vice Chancellor of the University of Otago, praised its impact on the university and the world at large.
“We are deeply sorry for the loss of Professor Flynn.”
“He was a legendary teacher and a giant among scholars,” he said.
“His work was widely cited across disciplines, his research made a real difference in the world, and his ideas were immense in scope, from high school classrooms to the frontiers of social science research.
“He was an iconic figure on our campus and there will never be another like him.”
Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins also honored Professor Flynn as “an absolute giant of teaching, research, campaigning, and university and civic life, we will miss him.”
