Defra appoints new chief scientific advisor

Defra has appointed Professor Gideon Henderson as its new chief scientific advisor (CSA).

Henderson (pictured) will join Defra in October this year, replacing Sir Ian Boyd who is leaving Defra after seven years in the post. He has been Professor of Earth Sciences at the Department of Earth Sciences in the University of Oxford since 2006.

Environment secretary, Michael Gove, said: “It is absolutely crucial that all our policies are based on sound scientific advice to ensure we are addressing the UK’s most pressing environmental issues in a targeted and innovative way, and Defra’s chief scientific advisor is vital to this process.”

The CSA sits on Defra’s Board and is responsible for overseeing the quality of evidence that the department relies on for policy decisions. The CSA also provides ministers with scientific advice and sets the priorities for scientific research and evidence gathering.