The UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) is the personal adviser on science and technology-related activities and policies to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. They are also the head of the Government Office for Science.
The Government Chief Scientific Adviser has a significant public role as the government's most visible scientific expert. This was apparent, for example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the GCSA would regularly appear in television briefings alongside senior government ministers.
Many individual government departments have departmental Chief Scientific Advisers (CSA). The GCSA is involved in recruiting CSAs, and meets regularly with CSAs to identify priorities, challenges and strategies. The adviser also usually serves as chair of the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
List of Government Chief Scientific Advisers
Sir Solly Zuckerman, 1964–1971
Sir Alan Cottrell, 1971–1974
Robert Press, 1974–1976
Sir John Ashworth, 1977–1981
Sir Robin Nicholson, 1982–1985
Sir John Fairclough, 1986–1990
Sir William Stewart, 1990–1995
Sir Robert May, 1995–2000
Sir David King, 2000–2008
Sir John Beddington, 2008–2013
Sir Mark Walport, 2013–2017
Sir Chris Whitty (interim), 2017–2018
Sir Patrick Vallance, 2018–2023
Dame Angela McLean, 2023–present
See also
Chief Medical Officer in the United Kingdom
Chief Scientific Officer for England
MoD Chief Scientific Adviser
Government Office for Science
Frederick Lindemann, 1st Viscount Cherwell
Chief Science Advisor in Canada
References
External links
– A discussion at the Royal Society, 2001.