Articles

Track-and-trace app being trialled now will do "heavy lifting" once social-distancing measures are lifted, science adviser says

Ramping up testing now a priority for ‘data-driven’ strategy, chief scientist tells MPs

Covid-19 strategy aims to reduce the peak of the outbreak, “not to suppress it completely", Patrick Vallance says

Sir Patrick Vallance also said he wanted half of all fast streamers to have science backgrounds

Sir Ian Boyd gives warning days before his departure as Defra chief scientist

Henderson will succeed Sir Ian Boyd in October

Appointment comes more than a year after communities department advertised for a chief scientific adviser

McLean was awarded damehood for services to mathematical biology and advice to government

MP says ongoing vacancy exposed in wake of Grenfell tragedy is "astounding" a year after search began

Patrick Vallance says new Whitehall role is ‘like being 13 again and being interested in science’

Department offers £120k a year for leader tasked with ensuring science and evidence stay "at the heart" of its post-Brexit operations

Chief scientific advisers provide vital expertise to help departments make informed policy decisions – not least during national emergencies. But to be effective, they must also be experts in the workings of Whitehall. Beckie Smith spoke to CSAs past and present to discover how they combine these distinctive skills.

The government chief scientific adviser reflects on his career to date and strengthening how science and policy work together in the civil service

The department's top scientist, who will advise on fire safety post-Grenfell, must have an engineering background, government CSA Patrick Vallance said.

The science chief will advise on areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, space technology and chemical, biological and missile defence 

Carole Mundell is the first departmental science adviser to be appointed since Patrick Vallance became government chief scientific adviser in April

Dr Patrick Vallance takes up post after appointment last November

Electronics and telecommunications expert Dr Mike Short named to post after six-month search

Prof Ian Boyd cancels decision to step down and pledges to stay on for “at least another year”

Statistician John Aston replaces Bernard Silverman to advise department on a range of issues

Longstanding top scientist at the environment department heading for the exit, in move Defra says comes at "natural end" of his fixed term

Brexit ministry confirms it is "currently exploring options" to bolster scientific advice available to it

Walport will serve as sole accounting officer for the powerful new research funding umbrella body