1000 days in the life of a science advisor

Science Advice to Governments, Auckland, 28-29 August 2014

1000 days in the life of a Chief Scientific Adviser

Professor Anne Glover CBE

Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission


"We also need a fundamental review of the way European institutions access and use scientific advice.

In the next Commission, I want to set up a Chief Scientific Adviser who has the power to deliver proactive, scientific advice throughout all stages of policy development and delivery.

This will reflect the central importance I attach to research and innovation.“

- José Manuel Barroso, 15 September 2009


The functions of the Chief Scientific Advisor will be as follows:

• To provide independent expert advice on any aspect of science, technology and innovation as requested by the President;

• […] to provide analysis and opinion on major policy proposals being submitted to the College touching upon issues of science, technology and innovation;

• […] to provide authoritative guidance on interpretation of scientific evidence in presence of uncertainty;

• […] to be involved in strategic emergency planning;

• To build relationships with high-level advisory groups as well as with similar structures in Member States and other countries;

• To advise on novel science, technology and innovation issues;

• […] to serve as an early warning conduct point on issues that might arise when scientific progress entails either opportunity or threat for the EU;

• To communicate the scientific values on which specific Commission proposals are based in order to enhance public confidence in science and technology;

• […] to promote European culture of science and technology widely within Europe and abroad.

IP/11/1497 - 05/12/2011


"Science for Policy"

The institutional embedding of the CSA

José Manuel Barroso President of the European Commission

Professor Anne Glover Chief Scientific Adviser to the President

Secretariat-General (SG) Impact Assessment Board

Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA)

DG Research and Innovation (RTD)

Joint Research Centre (JRC)

"Policy for Science"

European Commissioners (including Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science)

Directorates-General, including:


Arriving in Brussels


Day 1

02/01/2012


So, here I am – what can I do for you?

Source: ETHZ


The staff I had on the first day (that makes a team of 2)

Source: ETHZ

Lydia Laura (Secretary)

Prof. Ana María Costa Freitas


Day 23

24/01/2012


On this day I met some of the key figures

Source: ETHZ

Johannes Laitenberger, Head of the President's Cabinet

Catherine Day, Secretary-General

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Research Commissioner

Dominique Ristori, Director-General Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Koen Doens, Head of the Spokespersons Service


Day 51

21/02/2012


My first 1:1 meeting with the President to discuss my priorities

Source: ETHZ


Day 78

19/03/2012


I finally have a Scientific Assistant, seconded by the Joint Research Centre

(that makes a team of 3)

Source: ETHZ

Dr Jan Marco Müller


Day 92

02/04/2012


Getting to know science in the Commission: Visiting Ispra (Italy), the largest JRC site

Source: ETHZ


Day 124

04/05/2012


My always supportive colleagues of DG CONNECT introduce me to the

miraculous world of Twitter – how could I ever have lived without it?

Source: ETHZ

https://twitter.com/EU_ScienceChief


Day 158

07/06/2012


In order to enhance transparency, I send my first weekly briefing to all DGs –

sadly, others don't return the favour

Source: ETHZ


Day 185

04/07/2012


Time to brief the President about some exciting European science

Source: ETHZ

Fabiola Gianotti, CERN


Day 193

12/07/2012


I am a special guest at the Euroscience Open Forum ESOF 2012 – but the European Commission seems to ignore my presence

Source: ETHZ


On the same day my website goes online – updated by my own team

Source: ETHZ

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/president/ chief-scientific-adviser/index_en.htm


Day 207

26/07/2012


Source: ETHZ

After half a year, my terms of reference are defined in a message to all services

of the European Commission


Source: ETHZ


Day 248

05/09/2012


Visit to Washington: Seeking allies on the other side of the Atlantic

Source: ETHZ


Day 276

03/10/2012


The Commission answers to a Parliamentary Question regarding public statements

of the CSA on GMOs as follows:

Source: ETHZ

EN E-007606/2012 Answer given by Mr Barroso on behalf of the Commission (3.10.2012) […] The Commission wishes to use the opportunity to clarify to the Honourable Member the role of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA). The CSA reports directly to the President of the Commission and has the task to provide independent expert advice to the President on any aspect of science, technology and innovation and the potential opportunities and threats to the EU stemming from new scientific and technological developments. Likewise, the CSA has a role in enhancing public confidence in science and technology and to promote the European culture of science. In this context, the CSA has a role in stimulating societal debate on new technologies and to communicate the existing scientific evidence about such technologies. The CSA has a purely advisory function and no role in defining Commission policies. Therefore, her views do not necessarily represent the views of the Commission.


Day 289

16/10/2012


I organise together with JRC and DG RTD the first meeting of the European

Commission with the Presidents of all National Science Academies in Europe

Source: ETHZ


Day 291

18/10/2012


The fun part of the CSA job is that you meet very high-flying people

Source: ETHZ

Frank De Winne 1st European Commander of the ISS

Walter Koenig alias Pavel Chekov Commander of the USS Enterprise


Day 337

03/12/2012


The European Space Agency seconds a foresight expert to my office

(that makes a team of 4)

Source: ETHZ

Dr Didier Schmitt


Day 345

11/12/2012


I speak to the Competitiveness Council (= the Science Ministers of Europe)

about the value of having a science adviser

Source: ETHZ


Day 423

27/02/2013


Source: ETHZ

The first meeting of the President's Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC)


Day 432

08/03/2013


Science writes my unofficial mid-term evaluation

Source: ETHZ

"Indeed, Glover's influence is hard to discern so far. […] With less than 2 years left until Barroso's term expires, Glover is pressing hard to raise the profile of science and evidence in European politics."


Day 440

16/03/2013


Being a CSA can be physically demanding

Source: ETHZ

Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) 5050 m altitude


Sharing the sheer joy of European science

Source: ETHZ


Day 513

28/05/2013


I join the first meeting of the Chief Scientists of the European Union

Agencies (EU-ANSA)

Source: ETHZ


Day 547

01/07/2013


I finally have my own PA (that makes a team of 5)

Source: ETHZ

Suzanne Speer


Day 556

10/07/2013


I have the pleasure to address the College of Commissioners talking about an

innovation-friendly societal environment

Source: ETHZ


Day 557

11/07/2013


My office receives the first access to documents (= freedom of information)

request – there will be many more

Source: ETHZ

Note the interest in my correspondence with other CSAs

Estimated working time needed to prepare the reply: 30 hours


Day 569

23/07/2013


As a science adviser, you always need to be on top of the scientific-technical progress


Day 639

01/10/2013


The first publication of my office, including the first report of the Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC)

"The Commission should facilitate the establishment of a pan-European platform and forum on public concerns about science and technology. This platform should operate like a broker. It should help people to find reliable and robust information and to arrive at a balanced and well-reflected judgment on their own (pro and con information that meets predefined quality criteria)."


Day 662

24/10/2013


I moderate a consensus meeting between two opposing scientific camps

in the field of endocrine disruptors


Day 683

14/11/2013


The European Parliament creates for the first time an in-house research service

The European Council still doesn't have one


Day 698

29/11/2013


My first public call for resignation

Source: ETHZ

Prof. Gilles-Eric Séralini MEP Corinne Lepage


Day 705

06/12/2013


In response to public demands I publish a detailed Conflict of Interest statement

Source: ETHZ


Day 733

03/01/2014


The access to documents requests get bigger

Source: ETHZ

Submitted by Pesticide Action Network Europe


Source: ETHZ

Estimated working time dedicated to this request: 60 hours


Day 746

16/01/2014


A seconded national expert from the UK House of Commons joins my team,

replacing Ana María Costa Freitas (that still makes a team of 5)

Source: ETHZ

Xameerah Malik


Day 758

28/01/2014


I continue trying to convince national governments why they should have

a government science adviser

Source: ETHZ


Day 778

17/02/2014


I chair the first meeting of the Commission's internal Foresight Network – with 200+ people from 20+ DGs signed up

Source: ETHZ

• Subtitle

3D PRINTING

Also known as additive manufacturing, this new

application of ink-jet printing technologies makes possible mass

customisation of most of the products currently generated in the world's manufacturing plants. Researchers have also shown it is possible to

print living cells.

PHOTONICS & LIGHT

Advances in photonics will make it possible to interact

with light in extreme conditions, work with new materials (engineered and organic) and work at the nanoscale. The result will be dramatic increases in data transmission speeds

and bring about zero defect manufacturing through

laser processing.

PERSONALISED MEDICINE

The first generation of 'digital patient profiles'

brings with it the possibility to offer safer, cheaper

integrated treatment and diets. No more treatment

based on averages or statistics, just what you need, when you need it, based on your specific

genome and biochemistry.


Day 793

03/03/2014


My office welcomes a trainee from the Belgian Academies for Science and Arts

(this makes temporarily a team of 6)

Source: ETHZ

Sofie Vanthournout


Day 823

03/04/2014


Doing some hands-on science diplomacy

Source: ETHZ


Day 850

30/04/2014


The access to documents requests get bigger and bigger

Source: ETHZ

Submitted by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)


Source: ETHZ

Estimated working time dedicated to this request: 90 hours


Day 870

20/05/2014


I invite a number of NGOs to discuss how the use of scientific evidence by the Commission could be improved

Source: ETHZ


Day 904

23/06/2014


Finding people similar to me

in Europe wasn't easy (Situation 01/2012)

//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Map_of_EU_states_blank.png


In the meantime

there are a few more of us (Situation 08/2014)

//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Map_of_EU_states_blank.png


Terms of Reference European Science Advisers Forum (ESAF) Mandate The European Science Advisers Forum is an independent and informal network of government science advisers in Europe. The aim of the European Science Advisers Forum is to provide a platform on which government science advisers in Europe can

• discuss and explore potential consensus on the scientific dimension of European-wide policy challenges • communicate with each other in emergency situations, • exchange experiences and best practices, • promote evidence-based policy-making in Europe.

Finally: The first ever meeting of government science advisers in Europe

Source: ETHZ


Day 933

22/07/2014


NGOs ask for the CSA post to be "scrapped"

Source: ETHZ

"The post of Chief Scientific Adviser is fundamentally problematic as it concentrates too much influence in one person, and undermines in-depth scientific research and assessments carried out by or for the Commission directorates in the course of policy elaboration." "Until now, the role of Chief Scientific Adviser has been unaccountable, intransparent and controversial." "We hope that you as the incoming Commission President will decide not to nominate a chief scientific adviser and that instead the Commission will take its advice from a variety of independent, multi-disciplinary sources, with a focus on the public interest."


Luckily, I have some friends

Source: ETHZ


And they are very vocal

Source: ETHZ


Day 961

19/08/2014


The NGOs send another letter

Source: ETHZ

"The intention of our letter was to stimulate a debate about […] the risks that continuing the CSA position poses to scientific policy advice in general. […] Far from being anti-science, our message is that there should be more objective and diverse expertise available to policy-makers than any single adviser could reasonably be expected to provide. […] President Barroso’s experiment of establishing a CSA position […] under-mined expert research undertaken by European agencies and independent scientists." "The question is how to ensure that the best representation of wide-ranging scientific advice is available to you and your colleagues. The CSA position does not and cannot fulfil this purpose. This is not because of a lack of resources but because of the fundamental flaws of the role itself."


Day 970

28/08/2014


So, here I am – sharing my experiences with some of my fellow travellers

Source: ETHZ


• EU policies are much more technical than national policies

(as much of it is about harmonisation) – this drags science into a political battlefield.

• Convincing the Commission of the scientific evidence is the easy part. It's harder to convince 751 MEPs from 190 different national Parties as well as 28 national governments (who all want to say at home that their position was adopted in Brussels).

• Therefore, a science adviser in the Commission must have counterparts in the Parliament and in the Council / in Member State governments.

• The diversity of cultural approaches to science advice should not be underestimated. Some Member States think that the CSA model does not suit them, while for others science advice as such is an entirely new concept.

Lessons learned (1)


• Many people inside and outside the Commission appreciated the fresh air brought by my role. In fact, there was more appetite for scientific evidence in Brussels than I thought.

• There was tremendous support for the role from the scientific community as well as business (which perceives the CSA as a "voice of reason"), while NGOs opposed it.

• Though not part of my job description, a considerable part of my time had to be devoted to acting as a kind of "scientific ombudsman" of the Commission, handling complaints about the Commission allegedly ignoring scientific evidence (which shows the necessity of such a function).

• I have been a constant target of lobbying (under the wrong assumption that this would influence my advice and that I have much more influence than I have in reality), therefore transparency is essential for the function, while respecting confidentiality.

Lessons learned (2)


• Overall I was impressed with the rigour of Commission procedures, while I also identified many areas for improvement (e.g. science in impact assessments, lack of harmonised guidelines for evidence gathering, selective use of evidence).

• The wealth of competence and expertise already available – e.g. in the JRC, in the EU Agencies, in national science academies – is far from being fully valued and harnessed.

• A body like the European Commission is not used to the fact that someone does not speak "the official line". Hence, the administration felt uncomfortable with my role.

• In-house politics hampered the efficiency of the role. Although I had the necessary independence, I was often excluded from essential information (sometimes being informed by people external to the Commission).

Lessons learned (3)


• Being attached to the President did not mean that I saw him a lot – but it meant that people listened to me.

• Despite not having any institutional power, my position gave me unique convening power – across Commission services and across Institutions.

• But: Running a Chief Scientific Adviser function in the European Commission is not possible without adequate resources.

• I would not have achieved anything without my always creative and hard-working team.

• I confess that there have been frustrating days in this job – but this was more than balanced by the joy of being a voice for the most exciting European science.

Lessons learned (4)


Day 1000

The President-elect announcing that he wants to strengthen the

Chief Scientific Adviser role?


E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: EU_ScienceChief

Thank you for your attention!

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