Presentation by Sir Mark Walport at the Newton Fund Science and Innovation Network (SIN) conference on 2 November 2015.

1. Sir Mark Walport
Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government
The International Role of Science

2. • Health, wellbeing, resilient & security
• 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. Key issues that drive the agenda
Infrastructure
(Natural and built)
Emergencies
The economy Science Policy
Credit: Mike Quinn/CC BY-SA 2.0 Credit: dyntr/CC BY-ND 2.0
Credit: Nic McPhee/CC BY-SA 2.0Credit: kloniwotski/CC BY-SA 2.0

4. International Science
What do we mean?
1. Co-authorship – the ‘standard model’.
2. The scientific Grand Challenges:
3. Capacity building in developing countries.
4. Working together on large scale equipment
5. Location specific science
6. Science in ungoverned spaces
7. Promoting national science internationally
8. Providing science advice to government
Credit: NASA

5. 1. Co-Authorship
The ‘standard model’ for international collaboration -
Bibliometrics
46% of UK scientific papers co-authored with international
partners.
Credit: Olivier H. Beauchesne

6. 2. The Scientific Grand
Challenges
Working together
internationally on the big
challenges we face.
•Infection control
•Climate
•Food Security
•Genome……………..
Credit: biology- pictures.blogspot.com
Credit: Jorge Paparoni/CC BY-SA 2.0

7. 3. Capacity building in Other
Countries
• Building capacity for science in
developing countries is a win-
win.
• Newton - £75m per year for 5
years. – With matched funding
• Wellcome – Major research
and capacity building
programmes

8. 4. Working Together on ‘Big
Kit’
Partnership funding models give us access to world
class equipment beyond national affordability.
LHC
ITER
Credit: AFP/Getty
Credit: ITER Organization 2011

9. 5. Location Specific Science
There are things we want to do
which must happen in certain
geographic regions:
•Favourable environmental
conditions – Extra Large
Telescope
•Geographic spread of disease –
Malaria, Ebola
•Ecosystem distribution –
endangered species, ecosystem
services
Credit: ESO, E-ELT
Credit: MPI for Biogeochemistry/Michael Hielscher

10. 6. Science Ungoverned
Spaces
There are locations where science occurs ‘beyond
government’. Collaboration is essential in order to work in
these areas.
Credit: AP Credit: Getty Images

11. 7. Promoting national capability
internationally
Working internationally we can:
• Export our ideas (and
goods/services!)
• Build a reputation as a
science and innovation nation
• Attract direct foreign
investment
• Attract overseas students and
scientists
• Lend credibility to our position
in debates

12. 8. Providing Science Advice
to Government
Routine science advice on
transnational issues:
•Air/water pollution
•EU food imports
Transnational incidents and
emergencies will require advice
from multiple nations.
GCSA model has many benefits
Credit: REUTERS/Eric Vidal

13. The common theme is scientists
• Can argue in public more easily than
diplomats!
• Can talk about difficult subjects more
acceptably
• Are often more ‘believed’, especially by
the public
• Are very used to sharing, (facilities,
people and ideas!) across boundaries
In fact, science is at its best when it is
an international endeavour
Scientists:
Credit: iStockphoto

14. 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