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Chief Scientific Advisers

Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs) are senior science leaders who bring scientific evidence to the centre of decision-making in government. Most government departments have a CSA who supports their department to ensure that science and engineering evidence and advice is robust, relevant, and high quality

Departmental CSAs work together under the leadership of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and through the CSA network to support each other and resolve cross departmental problems.

Role

CSAs advise their department and the Government Chief Scientific Adviser on all aspects of policy on science and technology. In particular, they:

  • Deliver advice and challenge directly to the Secretary of State, other ministers and policymakers in their department.

  • Perform an independent challenge function for their department, ensuring that science and engineering evidence and advice for departmental policies and decisions is robust, relevant and high quality.

  • Ensure that there are mechanisms in place to ensure that policymaking and the delivery of services and operations are underpinned by science and engineering.

  • Work with CSAs in other departments through the CSA network to share good practice across government and to identify and resolve cross-departmental science issues.

  • Lead and engage on relevant national and international science and engineering matters.

Membership

Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean
Former Department for Business and Trade* Professor Julia Sutcliffe
Department for Culture, Media and Sport Professor Tom Crick
Department for Education Professor Michael Thomas
Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero Professor Emily Shuckburgh
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Professor Anjali Goswami
Former Department for Science, Innovation and Technology* Professor Christopher Johnson
Department for Transport Professor Patricia Thornley
Department for Work and Pensions Catherine Hutchinson
Department of Health and Social Care Professor Lucy Chappell
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Professor John Edmunds
Health and Safety Executive Professor Andrew Curran
His Majesty’s Treasury Jess Glover
Home Office Professor Brooke Rogers
Met Office Professor Stephen Belcher
Ministry of Defence Professor Tim Dafforn
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Professor Sergio Cavalaro
Ministry of Justice Hugh Stickland
National Police Chiefs’ Council Professor Paul Taylor
National Security Professor Danielle George
Northern Ireland Executive Professor Helen McCarthy
Scottish Government Professor Calum Semple
Welsh Government Professor Jas Pal Badyal

Alternative arrangements for the provision of scientific advice are in place for departments which currently have no CSA.

*Machinery of Government changes affecting DSIT were announced on 21 July 2026. This page will be updated once the changes have been implemented.

Guidance

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