Professor Sir Ian Boyd is a distinguished marine biologist who from 2012 to 2019 was Chief Scientific Advisor at Defra (Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and is currently President of the Royal Society of Biology.

While at Defra he dealt with such tricky issues as bovine TB and badger culling, neonicotinoid insecticides and “forever” chemical pollutants. In his recent no-holds-barred book, Science and Politics, Ian describes some of the challenges in speaking truth to power and reflects on the uneasy marriage of science and politics. Importantly, he suggests positive and quite radical actions that might be taken to improve the way government incorporates the best science in decision maker. Ian will discuss his ideas with Sir Charles Godfray (OMS Director) and Dame Helen Ghosh (Master of Balliol and former Permanent Secretary at Defra) and take questions from the audience.

This event will be followed by a drinks reception and book sale/signing.