Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean DBE FRS spent a day at IAAPS, on campus and at the launch event for the University’s new Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour on Wednesday 29 January.

Prof McLean, whose role it is to put excellent science advice at the heart of decision making in Whitehall, toured University of Bath facilities and met a range of researchers working on impactful research projects.

Commenting on her visit she said: “I had a wonderful day at the University of Bath and particularly enjoyed meeting so many different teams and research groups – from IAAPS to the Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour and the Institute for the Augmented Human.

“The breadth of projects - from decarbonising transport, to enhancing digital security, creating assistive technologies, and tracking wastewater for disease - speak to so many of the science policy challenges we face and demonstrates how this research can have real impact.”

Her day began at IAAPS where she met Prof Chris Brace, Prof Rob Oliver and the wider IAAPS team to learn about their mission help decarbonise the transport industry in the transition to net zero. This included a tour and briefing of IAAPS’ test cells and an overview of its green hydrogen plant.

Back on campus, she toured the Institute for Security and Behaviour (IDSB) facilities in 10E, led by Directors Prof Laura Smith and Prof Adam Joinson, ahead of her evening keynote address at the Institute’s launch event at the Guildhall. Over lunch she also met Deans of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences and Science, Prof Deborah Wilson and Prof Duncan Craig.

In the afternoon, she saw showcase examples of Bath research and innovation with impact projects, meeting Dr Asel Sartbaeva (whose work focuses on vaccine enscillation), Dr George Stothart (developing a novel approach to Alzheimer’s detection), Dr Chris Pudney (who has pioneered new ways to detect synthetic drugs), and Dr Hannah Leese (from the Centre for Bioengineering & Biomedical Technologies who was also about to brief the GCSA about the new spin-out ‘Bactery’).

Her tour moved on to the Sports Training Village, where she was welcomed by Stephen Baddeley (Director of Sport) and introduced to the team from the Bath Institute for the Augmented Human (IAH) led by Prof Damien Coyle and Dr Ben Metcalfe. Through an interactive exhibition, she learnt more about the Institute’s work in advancing health, wellbeing and performance.

Next, she visited 5W to meet the team from the University’s Centre for Excellence in Water-Based Early Warning Systems (CWBE) led by Prof Barbara Kaspryzk-Hordern. In the labs she met Prof Ed Feil, Prof Julie Barnett and wider CWBE team to discuss how the Centre is working across disciplines to transform public and environmental health management by tracking and analysing wastewater.

Later in the day, she participated in a roundtable discussion focused climate change and resilience, chaired by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Prof Sarah Hainsworth.

The roundtable discussion covered multiple areas of Bath research and expertise, drawing together our researchers from across the disciplines each working on different aspects of climate change and sustainability, including: Prof Tim Mays, Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh, Prof Marcelle McManus, Prof Andrew Heath, Prof Marianne Ellis, Prof Sukumār Natarājan, Prof Harry Rutter, Prof Nick Pearce, Dr Annie Snelson-Powell, Prof Steve Cayzer and Richard Jackson.

Prof McLean added: “The roundtable discussion on the challenges and opportunities in responding to climate change was also fantastically informative including reflections on how we need to ensure young people are in charge of this, and feel empowered, which is clearly a key priority for the University of Bath.”

She was joined for part of the day by Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) Prof Chris Johnson – who is on the Advisory Board for the Institute for Digital Security & Behaviour – for her visit to IAAPS and the roundtable discussion.

After a meeting Vice-Chancellor and President, Prof Phil Taylor, Prof McLean and Prof Johnson travelled to the Guildhall for the launch event for the IDSB.

Professor Sarah Hainsworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) said: "We were delighted to host Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean and Chief Scientific Adviser for DSIT Professor Chris Johnson at the University this week.

"It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase to both Angela and Chris innovative and applied research projects at Bath and to introduce them to academics across our core research themes - in digital, health and sustainability. These projects each speak to real-world scientific and policy challenges and can support the government's agendas, including its growth mission. My thanks to all colleagues for being part of the day."

Prof McLean's day was facilitated by teams across the University, coordinated by the External Affairs unit within the Department of Marketing, Communications & External Affairs.