Transparency data: Council for Science and Technology: meeting summary, March 2025

Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee

Professor Russell Viner, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Education

Professor Dame Athene Donald, Chair of the Department for Education Science Advisory Council; Professor Emerita of Experimental Physics, University of Cambridge

Professor Chris Whitty, Permanent Secretary and Chief Medical Officer, Department for Health and Social Care

Catherine Frances, Director General for Global and Public Health, Department for Health and Social Care

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Deputy Chair, Industrial Strategy Advisory Council and former Vice Chancellor, University of Manchester

Professor Julia Sutcliffe, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Business and Trade

Professor Dame Angela McLean welcomed new CST members to the first official meeting of the Council.

Government officials updated members on progress in delivering government missions and the Industrial Strategy.  

Members discussed current CST advice on the National Data Library and plans to advise on the government’s data vision in the Industrial Strategy.

Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee, provided an update on the Committee’s current inquiries. The discussion covered social media, misinformation and algorithms; innovation and regional growth; and science diplomacy. It was agreed that CST members would provide suggestions on future Committee inquiries.

Professor Russell Viner, Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Education (DfE), and Professor Dame Athene Donald, Chair of the Department for Education Science Advisory Council, discussed the government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity. Members offered advice on the adoption of AI and digital skills, apprenticeships, the impact of home environments on learning and industry engagement.