CSaP annual conference 2018: Recent Episodes
Cambridge University
What is the significance of science to Government?
Patrick Vallance kicked off the Centre for Science and Policy’s Annual Conference with a keynote speech, just eleven weeks after starting his new role as the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser.
Dr Vallance made use of the occasion to set out his vision for a scientific civil service. Citing a white paper from 1945 with the title ‘a scientific civil service’, he showed how already in the post-war period there was a belief that scientists should have a bigger role to play in government. Nowadays this need is even larger, as the reach of science in our everyday lives and in the work of the government continues to grow.
The first session at CSaP's annual conference was chaired by Dr Helen Munn, Director of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and included world leading experts on behaviour change from the University of Cambridge, UCL and Defra.
Dr Rob Doubleday, CSaP's Executive Director, introduces Dr Patrick Vallance, UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser, who delivered the keynote speech at CSaP's 2018 Annual Conference, just eleven weeks after starting in his new role.
This session highlights the importance of effective communication to ensure trustworthiness, chaired by Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk, University of Cambridge.
This panel highlights the potential opportunities provided by data science and AI, and how these might influence or aid future policymaking. The session was chaired by Hetan Shah, Director of the Royal Statistical Society.
Becoming a world leader in Advanced Manufacturing is key to maintaining and increasing the UK's economic growth. The second session in CSaP's annual conference focussed on one of the key challenges to fulfilling this aim - the skills shortage.