Levers of change - Reflections on providing science advice to government (Mat Williams)

Over the past two years I have been seconded into the Scottish Government as Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. These are areas where significant power is devolved, and where Scotland’s response to the climate and nature crises are concentrated. I will explain the role of CSA and how it supports science and science advice in Scotland. I will outline how policies are developed in government, and how science is connected to policy development, with some specific examples. Finally, I will explore how science and innovation, including earth observation, can best be brought into government, at a time when solutions are urgently needed to meet societally agreed goals.