Event information

Reflections of a Chief Scientific Adviser: Broad and Inclusive Definitions of "Science" and "Advice."

Wednesday 21st May 2025, 13:00-14:00 (BST)

This is a Centre for Higher Education Transformations event.

Venue – In person. Information on how to attend is found at the end of your order confirmation email.

Registration - Sign up for this event on the Eventbrite page. 

 

About the event

Speaker: Professor Tom Crick MBE (Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS))

In this talk, Tom will offer some reflections on the nature of science advisory mechanisms — and thus the use of "research" and "evidence" — in government, especially for academics working at the research-policy-practice interface. He will also reflect on the nature and emerging impact of the ongoing major education system-level reforms in Wales, especially focusing on STEM education, digital competence, and ALN/SEN.

Professor Tom Crick MBE FLSW FAcSS
Professor Tom Crick is Professor of Digital Policy at Swansea University and Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Whilst his disciplinary background is in computer science, his interests sit at the research-policy-practice interface, identifying and addressing domain problems with broad digital, data-driven and computational themes, and especially focusing on the impact on citizens, society and the economy.

Within DCMS, he oversees the use of research, evidence and brokerage of external expertise, providing advice to ministers, alongside scientific/technical leadership within the department (including as SRO for AI). Prior to his DCMS CSA role, Tom led the major science and technology curriculum and qualifications reforms in Wales over the past 10+ years, and recently drove the development of Swansea University’s first civic mission strategy. Alongside his academic work, Tom has held senior advisory roles with BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT (including as Vice-President from 2017-2020), the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales, Nesta, and Ofcom, as well as non-executive roles in the utilities, engineering/manufacturing, and health sectors.