Thinker Taylor: the policing chief scientific adviser on police dogs, facial recognition and digital forensics
28 Mar Science & Engineering

Thinker Taylor: the policing chief scientific adviser on police dogs, facial recognition and digital forensics

Paul Taylor was named the first national policing chief scientific adviser last year. He tells Beckie Smith how he’s working to improve the way science and technology is used in policing – and the “Del Boy moments” he’s had along the way
by Beckie Smith
Government offers £200k for next chief scientific adviser
02 Sep Science & Engineering
Government offers £200k for next chief scientific adviser
Jonathan Van-Tam given prestigious award for Covid press briefings
24 Aug Science & Engineering
Jonathan Van-Tam given prestigious award for Covid press briefings
Patrick Vallance to step down as chief scientific adviser
08 Aug Science & Engineering
Patrick Vallance to step down as chief scientific adviser
Enough modelling, start building - why it is time for Engineering Net Zero Sponsored
25 Feb 2021 Science & Engineering
Enough modelling, start building - why it is time for Engineering Net Zero
Dr David Cole, market director in Power at Atkins, explains why the time for modelling Net Zero scenarios has passed - and why the UK must instead move into action
June Raine made permanent CEO of medicines regulator
25 Feb 2021 Science & Engineering
June Raine made permanent CEO of medicines regulator
DHSC praises “crucial” role in rapid authorisation of Covid vaccines and formalises interim arrangements in place since 2019
'High risk' science agency to open in 2022, says BEIS
19 Feb 2021 Science & Engineering
'High risk' science agency to open in 2022, says BEIS
Dominic Cummings's brainchild, UK ARPA, will be known as Aria
‘Bad Science’ author Ben Goldacre to review research use of health data
11 Feb 2021 Science & Engineering
‘Bad Science’ author Ben Goldacre to review research use of health data
Head of Oxford University DataLab to report findings in April
Dominic Cummings was right about greater role for scientists, says ex-DCMS perm sec
03 Feb 2021 Science & Engineering
Dominic Cummings was right about greater role for scientists, says ex-DCMS perm sec
Sue Owen also tells IfG event government's Covid and Brexit experience should boost profile of civil service's operational delivery specialists
Defra appoints new chief exec to marine science agency
02 Feb 2021 Science & Engineering
Defra appoints new chief exec to marine science agency
Neil Hornby joins from within the department
Government comms ‘need overhaul’ after Covid-19 blunders and spin
01 Feb 2021 Science & Engineering
Government comms ‘need overhaul’ after Covid-19 blunders and spin
Fact-checking charity calls for inquiry and says civil service analysts should brief the press on complex issues
'The scientific community came together to innovate’: how one BEIS-backed institute responded to Covid
15 Jan 2021 Science & Engineering
'The scientific community came together to innovate’: how one BEIS-backed institute responded to Covid
Covid-19 has pushed science to the front pages, Dr Peter Thompson, chief executive of National Physical Laboratory, writes about science’s role in aiding economic recovery
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
08 Jan 2021 Science & Engineering
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
Transparency around how SAGE works has improved, but lessons have been applied "inconsistently"
Net zero, a new supercomputer, COP26 and a Met Office restructure: Prof Penelope Endersby looks ahead to 2021
22 Dec 2020 Science & Engineering
Net zero, a new supercomputer, COP26 and a Met Office restructure: Prof Penelope Endersby looks ahead to 2021
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
DHSC offers £160,000 for chief scientist to succeed Chris Whitty
11 Dec 2020 Science & Engineering
DHSC offers £160,000 for chief scientist to succeed Chris Whitty
Recruitment firm in line for £40,000 if its search is successful
Don't overburden NHS Test and Trace, chief medic warns
04 Nov 2020 Science & Engineering
Don't overburden NHS Test and Trace, chief medic warns
Speed of test turnarounds is critical, Chris Whitty says, as he also warns it would be "stupid" for scientists to interfere in minutiae of policy decisions
Ministers accused of 'ignoring own advisers' after rejecting SAGE call for 'circuit breaker' lockdown
13 Oct 2020 Science & Engineering
Ministers accused of 'ignoring own advisers' after rejecting SAGE call for 'circuit breaker' lockdown
Scientific advisers called for "immediate action" on 21 September, minutes show
Why following the science won’t be enough to build a better future after coronavirus
05 Oct 2020 Science & Engineering
Why following the science won’t be enough to build a better future after coronavirus
Policymakers will need the full power of the humanities and social sciences to deliver an inclusive, equitable and sustainable pandemic recovery, says Hetan Shah of the British Academy
Post-pandemic policymaking 'must go beyond following the science', professors say
02 Oct 2020 Science & Engineering
Post-pandemic policymaking 'must go beyond following the science', professors say
British Academy project sets out ‘five principles to draw on "full breadth of knowledge" for policy
Civil Service Fast Stream kicks off recruitment round for over 800 posts
25 Sep 2020 Science & Engineering
Civil Service Fast Stream kicks off recruitment round for over 800 posts
Selection of available jobs includes 244 roles for generalist officials
BEIS job market review to inform pay framework for civil service scientists Exclusive
03 Sep 2020 Science & Engineering
BEIS job market review to inform pay framework for civil service scientists
Review of pay for specialist scientists and engineers outside government will help build business case for future GSE profession reward framework
Home Office seeks leader for Policy and Innovation Lab
05 Aug 2020 Science & Engineering
Home Office seeks leader for Policy and Innovation Lab
Department recruits for individual to apply design principles to solve government challenges
Opinion: Why Britain's risk-averse, fragmented research funding is hampering our ability to deliver national security effectively
14 Jul 2020 Science & Engineering
Opinion: Why Britain's risk-averse, fragmented research funding is hampering our ability to deliver national security effectively
To harness radical benefits for society, the UK needs a single research funding body which can commandeer funds from across government departments and bodies, argues defence and security expert Dr Simon Harwood
Test, track and trace system 'can prevent second wave' of coronavirus, Vallance says
07 May 2020 Science & Engineering
Test, track and trace system 'can prevent second wave' of coronavirus, Vallance says

Track-and-trace app being trialled now will do "heavy lifting" once social-distancing measures are lifted, science adviser says
Government is listening to scientists on coronavirus response, Vallance says
18 Mar 2020 Science & Engineering
Government is listening to scientists on coronavirus response, Vallance says

Ramping up testing now a priority for ‘data-driven’ strategy, chief scientist tells MPs
Opinion: Coronavirus may yet reveal the limits of science’s impact on government decisions
15 Mar 2020 Science & Engineering
Opinion: Coronavirus may yet reveal the limits of science’s impact on government decisions

The government’s Covid-19 response has been driven by expert advice, in a way that isn’t always clear in public policy. Can it stay that way throughout the crisis?
Government chief scientist explains lack of 'eye-catching' measures in coronavirus fight
13 Mar 2020 Science & Engineering
Government chief scientist explains lack of 'eye-catching' measures in coronavirus fight

Covid-19 strategy aims to reduce the peak of the outbreak, “not to suppress it completely", Patrick Vallance says
Sunak confirms £800m for 'blue skies' research agency amid R&D funding boost
11 Mar 2020 Science & Engineering
Sunak confirms £800m for "blue skies" research agency amid R&D funding boost

Chancellor says government will boost R&D spending to £22bn a year by 2024-25