About the Science Policy Centre
The Royal Society has a long track record of providing scientific advice to policy makers. Its earliest report, on the state of Britain’s forests, was published in 1664.
Today, scientific advice to underpin policy is more important than ever before. From neuroscience to nanotechnology, food security to climate change, the questions being asked of scientists by policy makers, the media and the public continue to multiply. Many of the issues are global in nature, and require international collaboration, not just amongst policy makers, but also between scientists.
In the run-up to its 350th Anniversary in 2010, the Royal Society has established a Science Policy Centre in order to strengthen the independent voice of science in UK, European and international policy. We want to champion the contribution that science and innovation can make to economic prosperity, quality of life and environmental sustainability, and we also want the Royal Society to be a hub for debate about science, society and public policy.
As we celebrate the vision of our founders, the creation of the Science Policy Centre reflects our ongoing commitment to rational inquiry and evidence as the basis for good decision making. The Royal Society has flourished for three and a half centuries, but its work is far from done.
Lord Krebs of Wytham FRS
Chairman, Royal Society
Science Policy Advisory Group
Members of the Advisory Group:
- Lord Krebs FRS, Master, Jesus College, Oxford University (Chair)
- Sir Roy Anderson FRS, Rector of Imperial College
- Clive Cookson, Science Editor, Financial Times
- Stephen Cox CVO, Executive Secretary, The Royal Society
- Dame Ann Dowling FRS FREng, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cambridge
- Professor Julia Goodfellow, Vice-Chancellor,University of Kent
- Professor Calestous Juma FRS, Professor of the Practice of International Development, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Dr Raghunath Mashelkar FRS, CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow, India and President of Global Research Alliance
- Professor Susan Owens OBE AcSS, Professor of Environment and Policy, University of Cambridge
- Professor Geoffrey Smith FRS, Head of the Department of Virology, Imperial College
- Sir Martin Sweeting FRS, Director, Surrey Space Centre