Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs)
GO-Science produced a comprehensive revision in April 2008 of the 'Managing Successful Appointment and Induction of CSAs' 1[2] - this is 'essential reading' for understanding the role and importance of CSAs and their officials inside departments. Coverage includes:
Recruitment; responsibilities; relationships within the Department, with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Scientific Advisory Committees, resources and broad good practice guidance. Induction material on wider government structures, bodies and relationships, participation in cross-cutting bodies like the Chief Scientific Adviser's Committee (CSAC) and other background material important to moving quickly into working as a fully effective CSA.
Key elements of Departmental Science and Innovation Strategies,[3] (sometimes called Evidence Strategies).
CSAs are also responsible for ensuring the implementation of the ‘Guidelines on Scientific Analysis in Policy Making’ (PDF, 39 Kb) .
Departments need scientific expertise in order to:
- interpret scientific issues simply and clearly;
- harness and synthesise existing research;
- identify their research requirements accurately;
- procure science of high quality and relevance;
- manage out-sourced research programmes;
- understand the findings of research programmes and appreciate their policy implications;
- evaluate scientific advice from external sources and identify the implications for policy; and
- monitor and evaluate the activities of their department's Science Advisory Committees.
