Presentation by Sir Mark Walport to the British Council 'Going Global' conference for leaders of international education - 1 June 2015.

1. Going Global:
The appliance of science in a complex
global context
Sir Mark Walport
Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government

2. 2 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
• Health, wellbeing, security & resilience
• Knowledge translated to economic
advantage
• The right science for emergencies
• Underpinning policy with evidence
• Advocacy and leadership for science
Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser
Credit: iStockphoto

3. 3 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
How we gather the best advice:
Access to networks
• Government science and engineering network
• Public sector research establishments
• National academies and learned societies
• Academia
• Industry

4. 4 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Timescales of
Scientific Advice
Long-term and Strategic
Medium-term Current Issues
Foresight: Demography, ageing and the future of cities
Horizon Scanning: The internet of things
Annual reports: Risk and Innovation
Research: Energy capacity margins,
fracking, cybersecurity
Emergencies: SAGEs on flooding, Fukushima, Ebola
Emerging issues: Neonicotinoids, bovine TB, ash dieback
Short-term and Responsive

5. 5 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
COBR
Scientific Advisory Group for
Emergencies
(SAGE)
Non-Governmental
Organisations
Government
Scientists
Industry Academia
• 2010 – Volcanic Ash
• 2011 – Fukushima
• 2012 – Olympics
• 2013 – Flooding
• 2014 – Ebola
• 2015 – Nepal Earthquake
• Operational response
• Impact management
• Recovery
• Public Information
The Importance of Embedded
Mechanisms
Home Office Rapid Diagnostics, 25th
June 20135
SACs

6. 6 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Ebola Outbreak:
What has SAGE considered?
• Modelling – what are the best
and reasonable worst case
scenarios?
• Risk to UK – how many
cases should we expect to
see?
• Screening – will it be
effective in identifying cases?
• Virus survival – how long
does the virus last on different
surfaces? Will it survive in
sewage?
• Vaccines –What clinical trials
do we need?
• What else can we do?
Cumulative cases 24 666
Cases in past 21 days 398
Cumulative deaths 10 179
WHO Ebola Situation Report - 18 March 2015

7. 7 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Horizon Scanning and Futures
• Confounding received wisdom
• Linking policy areas
• Avoiding unintended consequences
• Targeting investment in the right places
HOUSEHOLD
INCOME PER
WEEK,
ENGLAND
AND WALES
(GBP)
Ageing
Cities

8. 8 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Where does risk come in?
Natural Credit: Maccheek/PD Credit: CDC/EthleenLloyd

9. 9 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Where does risk come in?
Human
Credit: AP Credit: @Boston_to_a_T/Twitter

10. 10 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
The National Risk Register
10

11. 11 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Innovation and Risk
Risk all pervasive in work as
GCSA
Innovation held back by badly
framed discussions about risk
•Communication
•Science meets values
•Regulation

12. 12 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Innovation has got us where we are
• Widespread electrification
• Improvements in healthcare
• Mass production systems
• Better transport links Credit: A_Werdan/PD
Credit: Foodcollection RF

13. 13 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Innovation is needed where we are going
The challenges we
face include:
•Climate change
•Water security
•Food and
agriculture
•Changing
demographics
Credit: Lindsey Bengtson/PDCredit: stockphoto
Credit: ‫שרגיאן‬ ‫יגאל‬/CC BY 2.5

14. 14 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Forms of innovation and risks
1. High level of acceptance but who pays?
2. Science meets values
3. My risk, your benefit
4. Unintended consequences
5. New challenges
Credit: istockphoto Credit: Sunil060902/CC-BY-SA-3.0 Credit: US Air Force/CC BY-NC 2.0
Credit: iStockphoto

15. 15 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
The policy challenge:
Viewing difficult issues through varied lenses
science is part of the answer
Parkhill et al, Transforming the Energy System – Public Values, Attitudes and Acceptability, 2013 (UKERC)
Credit: Thomas Shahan/CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0

16. 16 Going Global: The appliance of science in a complex global context
Conclusion
• We are in the fastest period of technological progress
we have ever seen – the link between R&D and national
prosperity will only get stronger
• Innovation is necessary to meet the challenges we all
face, we must properly balance the risks that this
presents
• Academia has a vital role to play both in terms of
economic growth, and ensuring government policy is
informed by the best information

17. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material.
We apologise for any errors or omissions in the included attributions and would be grateful if notified of any corrections
that should be incorporated in future versions of this slide set. We can be contacted through contact@go-
science.gsi.gov.uk .
@uksciencechief
www.gov.uk/go-science