Section Menu

Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers (DCSAs)

One of the main recommendations of the Cross Cutting Review of Science and Research called for government departments that use science to appoint their own DCSA.  DCSAs have now been appointed in a majority of government departments.  Their role forms part of the wider drive for evidence based policy and improved service delivery, with specific responsibility for ensuring the quality of scientific advice within their departments and agencies.

The Government Office for Science (GO-Science) has produced induction-briefing notes for newly appointed DCSAs. The purpose of the induction notes is to provide a common framework of understanding of the importance of science and scientific evidence alongside other analytical disciplines to underpin evidence-based policy, regulation and delivery, and the respective roles of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and the DCSAs in achieving this.