The UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) is the personal adviser on science and technology-related activities and policies to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. They are also the head of the Government Office for Science.
The Government Chief Scientific Adviser has a significant public role as the government's most visible scientific expert. This was apparent, for example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the GCSA would regularly appear in television briefings alongside senior government ministers.
Many individual government departments have departmental Chief Scientific Advisers (CSA).[1] The GCSA is involved in recruiting CSAs, and meets regularly with CSAs to identify priorities, challenges and strategies.[2] The adviser also usually serves as chair of the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).[3]