‘He may go down as the most influential chief scientific adviser we’ve had’: experts reflect on Patrick Vallance’s time in government
04 Apr Science & Engineering

‘He may go down as the most influential chief scientific adviser we’ve had’: experts reflect on Patrick Vallance’s time in government

As government chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance became a household name as the calm and rational presence at the daily Covid briefings. Beckie Smith takes a look at the man behind the TV screen
by Beckie Smith
Angela McLean named first female government chief scientific adviser
21 Feb Science & Engineering
Angela McLean named first female government chief scientific adviser
'There will be a job for everyone,' Sarah Munby reassures civil servants as BEIS splits
07 Feb Science & Engineering
'There will be a job for everyone,' Sarah Munby reassures civil servants as BEIS splits
Pocklington to lead new energy department in perm secs reshuffle
07 Feb Science & Engineering
Pocklington to lead new energy department in perm secs reshuffle
Government scientists seek real-world insight for net-zero policymaking
15 Nov 2021 Science & Engineering
Government scientists seek real-world insight for net-zero policymaking
Project will look at how social and behaviour changes will impact the government’s 2050 ambitions
Top scientist Jeremy Farrar quits SAGE, warning Covid is 'far from over'
03 Nov 2021 Science & Engineering
Top scientist Jeremy Farrar quits SAGE, warning Covid is 'far from over'
Wellcome Trust director says experts have provided 'vital advice' under 'huge pressure'
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
20 Oct 2021 Science & Engineering
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
Source cites "lessened demand for science advice" for reduction in meetings
Cop-ing strategies: Has the government backed up its net-zero ambitions with action?
09 Aug 2021 Science & Engineering
Cop-ing strategies: Has the government backed up its net-zero ambitions with action?
The UK government has some world-leading pledges on carbon reduction ahead of Cop26. But have the policies to meet them followed?
£110,000 on offer to lead life sciences unit
02 Aug 2021 Science & Engineering
£110,000 on offer to lead life sciences unit
"Strategic thinker" sought to lead engagement with sector after Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit
Mining exec named next chair of research funding body
08 Jun 2021 Science & Engineering
Mining exec named next chair of research funding body
Sir Andrew Mackenzie will provide "strong, commercially-minded leadership" to UK Research and Innovation, Kwarteng says
BEIS seeks chief for research agency championed by Cummings
02 Jun 2021 Science & Engineering
BEIS seeks chief for research agency championed by Cummings
Head of Aria will ‘build and design an organisation that is truly unique and unprecedented in the UK’, application pack says
Innovation agency gets first permanent chief exec in three years
06 May 2021 Science & Engineering
Innovation agency gets first permanent chief exec in three years
Former Watchstone head Indro Mukerjee takes over from Ian Campbell
DHSC names new chief scientific adviser
21 Apr 2021 Science & Engineering
DHSC names new chief scientific adviser
Lucy Chappell will take on some of chief medical officer Chris Whitty’s health department work
Industrial strategy to be scrapped, Sunak and Kwarteng confirm
31 Mar 2021 Science & Engineering
Industrial strategy to be scrapped, Sunak and Kwarteng confirm
May's flagship strategy being "transitioned" into government's Plan for Growth
Making contact: the inside story of how the government’s Covid app was developed
29 Mar 2021 Science & Engineering
Making contact: the inside story of how the government’s Covid app was developed
More than 20 million UK citizens have downloaded the NHS Covid-19 app. One of the leaders of the development process discusses its impact and future plans with Sam Trendall
Dominic Cummings rails against Treasury for ‘horrific’ impact on science funding
19 Mar 2021 Science & Engineering
Dominic Cummings rails against Treasury for ‘horrific’ impact on science funding
Advanced Research and Invention Agency needs “extreme freedom” from civil service bureaucracy, procurement rules, business cases and pay scales says PM’s former chief spad
PM sets out 10-year foreign-policy vision for ‘increased international activism’
16 Mar 2021 Science & Engineering
PM sets out 10-year foreign-policy vision for ‘increased international activism’
Integrated review of security and defence eyes “tilt to the Indo-Pacific” and new tech hubs
Kwarteng scraps Industrial Strategy Council and hints at BEIS rebrand
05 Mar 2021 Science & Engineering
Kwarteng scraps Industrial Strategy Council and hints at BEIS rebrand
Business secretary tells members move will "mark a departure from the industrial strategy brand"
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