杏吧原创

David King, an expert on the chemistry of surfaces at Cambridge University, has been appointed the UK government鈥檚 new Chief Scientific Adviser.

King鈥檚 research includes work on how individual atoms bond to materials. This is a far cry from genetically-modified foods, cloning and BSE 鈥� the topics he鈥檚 likely to be called upon to comment on.

鈥淗e鈥檚 not working in those fields. But maybe that鈥檚 a good thing,鈥� says David Phillips, head of chemistry at Imperial College London. In fact, Phillips thinks King鈥檚 recent academic experience could prove particularly useful. 鈥淢anaging a bunch of prima donnas in Cambridge must qualify him in politics,鈥� he muses.

King鈥檚 department says he will not be giving up his research for the new position. But to do both jobs adequately is a tall order, says Phillips.

King follows Sir Robert May of Oxford University, whose term finished at the end of September. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an extremely interesting challenge,鈥� says May. 鈥淚 wish him well.鈥�

Alice Sharp-Pierson of the pressure group Save British Science, thinks there are some key issues King should look at. 鈥淭hese include low academic salaries and the lack of influence of scientific opinion within government,鈥� she says.

Poor budgets for research and development and the perceived lack of independence of scientists working for the government are also areas of concern, says Sharp-Pierson.