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Defra Science Advisory Council

Sub-Groups

The majority of the Council's work is taken forwards through sub-groups. The SAC establishes sub-groups where appropriate in relation to emergencies, or to carry out focussed studies and other details pieces of work. These are chaired by a member of the SAC.

Sub-groups may also include non SAC members for a particular project or task, co-opted on an ad hoc, time-limited basis, to increase the range of expertise available. The SAC sub-group's reports are published once advice has been considered and accepted at the SAC meetings.

Current SAC sub-groups:

• Capability Review (SAC-C)
  Established to provide advice and feedback to a Defra project assessing Defra’s long-term strategic knowledge capability needs. The project considers the key knowledge requirements for Defra both now and into the future and will guide strategic science investments.
• Epidemic Diseases (SAC-ED)
  Established to provide advice on epidemic disease issues. The sub-group has focused its work on Defra's Foot and Mouth Disease and Avian Influenza contingency plans and is now working on Bluetongue.
               Foot and Mouth Disease
               Avian Influenza
               Bluetongue Disease
  

Previous SAC sub-groups:

• Social science (SAC-SOC)
  Established to consider the capacity and uptake of social research in Defra. The sub-group is currently focussing on Defra’s ability to effectively contribute non-economic social research out-put to its evidence base and its subsequent uptake into policy development.
• Science, evidence and innovation strategy (SAC-S) (2004 - 2005)
  Established to consider the development and content of Defra's Evidence and Innovation Strategy.
• Literature review relating to bovine tuberculosis (SAC-TB) (2005)
  Established to consider the literature review of research on bovine TB and the comments from the peer review thereof, and provide an overview assessment for the Chief Scientific Adviser on the quality of the available scientific evidence.
• Governance (SAC-G) (2005 – 2006)
  Established to consider governance issues relating to science advice in Defra. Issues include Defra's quality assurance and peer review programme, Defra's long-term science advice needs on bovine tuberculosis, and an end-to-end review of Defra science into policy.
• Risk (SAC-R) (2006 - 2007)
  Established to consider how Defra uses science in the handling of risk, with particular emphasis focussed on considering Defra's ability to compare external risks and their impacts, and in particular to undertake comparisons between risks in different policy areas across the Department's remit. 

 

If you would like to comment or be added to the Science Advisory Council's stakeholder mailing list please email: science.advisory.council@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Page last modified: 5 August 2008
Page published: 14 November 2007

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