Government Office for Science

Guidance for civil servants on how to work with academics.

One-stop shop for academics and industry experts to engage with government science systems.

This report summarises evidence on how placing people at the heart of climate adaptation policy and action can improve outcomes.

Guidance requiring all government research to be conducted in accordance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, which is a national framework for good research conduct and its governance.

This inventory brings together Government and UKRI-funded research and innovation programmes supporting climate adaptation. It provides a cross-government picture of current activity and its alignment with the system challenges set out in the Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework (CARIF).

This report explores how adapting to climate change can create economic opportunities for the UK while strengthening resilience.

The Government Office for Science’s statement on how the Concordat to Support Research Integrity was applied.

Science advice note: biology-based approaches to critical minerals extraction and processing within 5 to 10 years.

A report on risk and resilience, which will help decision-makers across HM Government build resilient supply chains and safeguard growth and prosperity.

This Foresight report sets out 5 scenarios for how AI could develop by 2030, helping policymakers prepare for future risks and opportunities.

Rapid technology assessment (RTA) looking at advanced composites for climate adaptation.

Science advice note: What does social and behavioural evidence tell us about the factors that influence public attitudes to human consumption of cell-cultivated and precision-fermented products?

Explore our directory of exchange programmes connecting academics and policy professionals for impactful collaborations and career development.

Science advice note: What is the evidence base on risks and benefits of teaching various Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) topics to children?

Information about the structure of the Government Office for Science.

Behavioural Research UK conducted a rapid review of summer risk behavioural advice for the Social and Behavioural Science for Emergencies Steering Group.

How the Government Office for Science will process your personal data, and your rights.

A Foresight project examining the future of global supply chains.

Principles to support policymakers to consider the social aspects of grid transformation.

Explores how uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) sectors might develop in the future.

Record of the discussion that took place at a precautionary Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) meeting on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

This case study, focusing on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, illustrates how the department used the Horizon Scanning tool from the Futures Toolkit, and the emerging trends and Updated Global Megatrends reports.

The Net Zero Technology Outlook report sets out the research and innovation needed to meet the UK’s net zero target.

Science advice note: What are the opportunities a National Data Library can provide and what can we learn from past initiatives?

The Government Office for Science’s statement on how the Concordat to Support Research Integrity was applied.

Science advice note: what are the main risks and opportunities associated with researching and developing ‘mirror life’, including along the pathway of development from cell components to self-replicating cells? 

Science advice note: How best do we encourage and enable individuals to adopt green choices and behaviours that will reduce emissions?

Science advice note: How can we bring the public with us as we accelerate expansion of grid infrastructure to meet the goals of clean power by 2030 and net zero by 2050?

A Foresight project examining the key factors influencing childhood, how these interact and how these could evolve in future.

Science advice note: What is the evidence for the impacts of deepfakes on voting behaviour? To what extent would a focus on media literacy mitigate any impacts?

This Foresight report explores Engineering Biology's transformative potential across sectors and its diverse applications, showcasing its societal impact.

This report aims to understand the possible economic impact of 15 emerging technologies by 2035, including the UK’s 5 critical technologies.

Rapid technology assessment (RTA) looking at humanoids.

Rapid technology assessment (RTA) looking at robotics.

Rapid technology assessment (RTA) looking at fusion energy.

Rapid technology assessment (RTA) looking at carbon management.

Rapid technology assessment (RTA) looking at future computing.

Rapid technology assessment (RTA) looking at metamaterials.

A report designed to help policy makers test the UK’s net zero strategy against scenarios for how society could look in future.

Rapid technology assessment (RTA) looking at neurotechnology.

A Foresight project examining the opportunities offered by engineering biology and supporting policy development to harness its potential.

This Foresight report examines the future role, uses and planning of the subsurface.

This case study, focusing on the Environment Agency, illustrates how the regulator used the Policy Stress-testing tool from the Futures Toolkit.

This case study, focusing on the Food Standards Agency, illustrates how the department used the Delphi tool from the Futures Toolkit.

This case study, focusing on the Government Office for Science, illustrates how the office used the Driver Mapping and Scenarios tools from the Futures Toolkit.

This case study, focusing on the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia, illustrates how the organisation used the Horizon Scanning and Scenarios tools from the Futures Toolkit.

This case study, focusing on the US Government Accountability Office, illustrates how the office incorporated foresight into its strategic planning.

This case study, focusing on Natural Resources Wales, illustrates how the body used the Scenarios and Visioning tools from the Futures Toolkit.

This case study, focusing on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), illustrates how the regulator used the Three Horizons and Future Wheels tools from the Futures Toolkit.

This case study, focusing on the Government Office for Science, illustrates how the office used the Delphi tool from the Futures Toolkit.

This case study, focusing on the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland, illustrates how the department used the Horizon Scanning tool from the Futures Toolkit.

This case study, focusing on the Northern Areas People’s Development Initiative, South Africa, illustrates how the initiative used the Scenarios tool from the Futures Toolkit.

This case study, focusing on the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, illustrates how the partnership used the Seven Questions tool from the Futures Toolkit.

Science advice note: What are the key risks that could emerge from the development of future communications technologies up to 2035?

Science advice note: What evidence is there on the relationship between access to/uptake of individual health interventions for menopause and workplace productivity?

Science advice note: do broad-spectrum antivirals exist, are they effective, and what are the barriers to their development?

A joint statement made by 5 Chief Scientific Advisers, to leverage science and technology to meet the challenges of today and to improve science and research systems coordination.

Science advice note: What do we already know about microbiome manipulation via diet, prebiotic and probiotic, and other interventions, and what are the research gaps?

We carry out and commission research, evidence synthesis, assessments and advice on a wide range of subjects which have implications for government policy.

Advice to the Prime Minister on harnessing research and development in the UK creative industries

Science advice note: How will human genome databases change between now and 2030, and who will hold them in the UK?

Science advice note: What is the evidence base for plausible biological mechanisms for health impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPF)? and Evidence review of epidemiology and clinical trials in relation to health impacts of ultra-processed food.

Science advice note: What are the priority research questions for enabling a risk-based approach to Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the built environment?

The Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology (CST) and the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) have published a joint statement on shared science and technology priorities.

Advice on opportunities to strengthen the UK’s sovereign space capability.

A Foresight project supporting a holistic and long-term approach to resilience and risk planning across government.

Science advice note: What are the technical and policy barriers to increasing EV battery recycling capacity in the UK?

Science advice note: What drives adaptive purchasing behaviours (APB), and what methods can be used to predict and mitigate them during crises?

Science advice note: How can policy making be improved by citizen science?

Science advice: How well do we understand the impacts of weather conditions on the UK’s renewable wind and solar energy supplies?

Science advice note: What impact do climate change misinformation and disinformation have?

Science advice note: What do we know about the future of rainfall capture in the UK, how it affects general hydrology, and the consequences for supply? 

Science advice note: What impact can heat pumps have in domestic heating today, and how might that change over time as technology improves?

Science advice note: Can human augmentation offer solutions to labour shortages in the next 5 years?

Summary of a rapid technology assessment (RTA) looking at digital twins.

The Council for Science and Technology (CST) wrote to the Prime Minster in June to offer advice on association to Horizon Europe.

Senior scientific advisers from around the world sign a statement to governments on biodiversity.

Foresight report looking at the role of future societal change within UK pathways to net zero.

Senior scientific advisers from around the world sign a statement to governments on climate change

An open letter calling for leaders to recognise vaccine trial participants as having legitimate certification for international travel and other purposes.

Advice to the Prime Minister on how government can increase the contribution of science and technology for the sustainability of the UK’s health and care system

Advice to the Prime Minister on how science and technology can help to address regional economic disparities across the UK and promote equality of opportunity.

Letter detailing the commencement of National Core Studies (NCS) to national senior clinical leads.

Response from Sir Mark Walport to a claim in the Guardian that his annual report likened fracking risks to thalidomide, tobacco and asbestos.

Economic impact assessment on EU tick size regulation.

Economic impact assessment on proposed minimum obligations for market makers.

Economic impact assessment on the effects of circuit breakers on market outcomes.

Economic impact assessment on a prescribed minimum tick rule.

Economic impact assessment on minimum resting times and call markets and circuit breakers.

Economic impact assessment on price-triggered circuit breakers.

Economic impact assessment on the new order book restrictions.

Economic impact assessment on changes to the MiFID.

Economic impact assessment on the impact of order to trade ratios on Italian stock market quality.

Economic impact assessment on regulatory scrutiny of algorithmic trading systems.

Economic impact assessment on internalisation on the quality of liquidity provision.

Economic impact assessment on continuous market and randomised stop auctions.

Economic impact assessment on the costs and benefits of of a central limit order book for European stocks.

Economic impact assessment on market abuse and surveillance legislation.

Economic impact assessment on market making obligations in MiFID II.

Economic impact assessment on maker-taker fees.

Economic impact assessment on harmonized circuit breakers.

Economic impact assessment on proposals for high frequency trading in MiFID.

Economic impact assessment on proposals for computer trading in MiFID II.

Independent review of the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (or fracking).