In Conversation with Professor Dame Angela McLean: three takeaways
Researcher
Putting the scientific discipline at the heart of policy making is crucial to successfully delivering the Government’s missions and building resilience in an increasingly complex and risky world. As Re:State wrote in ‘From sidelined to systemic’, the civil service has a long way to go to put scientific advice on an equal footing with other parts of policymaking.
Yesterday we hosted Professor Dame Angela McLean, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, for an ‘in Conversation’ where she shared her reflections on how government can improve its use of science – moving it from ‘nice to have’ in some instances, to ‘unthinkable not to use’ in all cases.
The discussion ranged from pandemic preparedness, to standards and expectations in scientific trials, to departments’ approaches to data collection. Here are our three key takeaways from the event:
- Cultural differences in academia and the civil service
Before becoming a civil servant, Angela was an academic researcher. One thing she noted in her evidence to the Covid-19 Inquiry was that when she became a civil servant, she was particularly surprised by the difference in standards of challenge between academia and government. A key part of the scientific method is taking the time to really listen to each other, but then being willing to debate and disagree. In the civil service it can be uncomfortable to challenge colleagues and ideas; however, it is crucial to so that the best decisions are made and the most effective policies can be implemented. For instance, Angela noted of the lack of “seminar culture” in the civil service, and suggested there could be huge benefits from having officials get together more regularly to present their work to each other, as the basis for critical collaboration.
- The opportunity offered by good data
As artificial intelligence develops, there is significant potential to use it to enhance the research process. However, to achieve this, it is imperative scientists and policymakers get the fundamentals right. That is, making sure that the way data is gathered and used is fit for a research purpose. AI will allow for rapid progress in the areas with the strongest existing data, and it’s vital we put these building blocks in place where they are absent.
- Career porosity
It is difficult to get into the civil service as an outsider, particularly for mid-career researchers. But there are huge benefits of bringing established scientists into policy making so they can bring their expertise into policy, but Whitehall needs to adapt its culture to get the most out of them – being more receptive to external talent, and upskilling scientists in how policy is made in the civil service .
Many thanks to PA for hosting this event, and keep an eye out for the full video which will be on our YouTube page soon!