David Ellis, Professor of Behavioural Science at the University of Bath School of Management, has been appointed to the new DSIT College of Experts, a network of independent specialists which will give the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) fast, flexible access to leading scientific and technical expertise.

The College was formally launched on 18 June 2026 at the Royal Society in London, bringing together members from universities, industry and research institutes across the UK. Professor Ellis is one of 71 members selected through a competitive process that attracted nearly 1,200 applications.

Members volunteer up to five days a year to support government work, from short advisory conversations to workshops and peer review.

‘It's a privilege to join the College of Experts. Digital technologies shape nearly every aspect of daily life, and the decisions government makes about them deserve the best available evidence. I'm looking forward to supporting DSIT's work at the intersection of behavioural science, digital data, and online safety,” Professor Ellis said.

DSIT Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of the College of Experts said: “The launch of the College of Experts at the Royal Society brought together an extraordinary group of independent specialists from across the UK, spanning AI, quantum, life sciences, cyber security, and far beyond. The experts volunteer their time to support us, reflecting a real commitment from the UK’s research and innovation community to contribute to government policymaking.”