Future Directions for Scientific Advice in Whitehall

This publication explores the evolving role of scientific advice in government, with a particular focus on the UK. Edited by Robert Doubleday and James Wilsdon, the document presents a series of essays from various experts who discuss how science can inform policy more effectively in Whitehall. Topics include the intersection of science and evidence-based policy, the use of expert advice in government decision-making, and the challenges of integrating scientific knowledge into public policy across disciplines. Key essays cover the role of Chief Scientific Advisers, interdisciplinary approaches to policymaking, the inclusion of public and international perspectives, and the potential future directions for scientific advice in governance. The collection also addresses the importance of credible and authoritative advice, navigating conflicting policy goals, and the dynamic nature of scientific advisory systems. Chapters: The science and art of effective advice, John Beddington; Experts and experimental government, Geoff Mulgan; A better formula: will Civil Service reform improve Whitehall’s use of expert advice? Jill Rutter; Making the most of scientists and engineers in government, Miles Parker; Civil Service identity, evidence and policy, Dave O’Brien; The science of science advice, Sheila Jasanoff; The case for a Chief Social Scientist, Cary Cooper and Stephen Anderson; Engineering policy: evidence, advice and execution, Brian Collins; The benefits of hindsight: how history can contribute to science policy, Rebekah Higgitt and James Wilsdon; Networks, nodes and nonlinearity: how scientific advice gets into policy, David Cleevely; Windows or doors? Experts, publics and open policy, Jack Stilgoe and Simon Burall; The power of ‘you’: expertise below the line, Alice Bell; The politics of posterity: expertise and long-range decision making, Natalie Day; Scientific advice in Parliament, Chris Tyler; Letter from America: a memo to Sir Mark Walport, Roger Pielke Jr.; The crowded chasm: science in the Australian governmen, Paul Harris; Lessons from the IPCC: do scientific assessments need to be consensual to be authoritative? Mike Hulme; Science advice at the global scale, Bob Watson