Her talk, ‘60 years of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser: Putting excellent science advice at the heart of decision making’ outlined her priorities for ensuring expert, timely, and trustworthy science advice is central to decision making.  

In her role as Government Chief Scientific Adviser, she is responsible for providing scientific advice to the Prime Minister and members of cabinet, advising the government on aspects of policy on science and technology, and ensuring and improving the quality and use of scientific evidence and advice in government.  

Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Jennings opened the public lecture. He said: “She’s great fun to work with, and has an exceedingly unnerving ability to ask what seems like a very simple, innocent-sounding question that really cuts to the crux of the issue, and I think that’s one of the things that’s made her so successful.” 

Professor Dame Angela McLean talked about the importance of knowing the right person to ask and what to ask them, the science challenges of today and the future, as well as her ‘superpowers’ in delivering her role, whilst crediting universities and young people as being superheroes too.  

As part of the lecture, Professor Dame Angela McLean then took questions from attendees in the room.  

Whilst at Loughborough University, Professor Dame Angela McLean visited some of its outstanding research facilities, including the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM), the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, as well as the National Rehabilitation Centre.