‘Independent Sage’ aims to show scientists can provide advice in a more open manner
Former government chief scientist David King has launched his own group to rival the official Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies as the latter faces growing complaints over secrecy during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Science is a discipline based on peer review, therefore it is critical scientific advice is transparent,” said King (pictured left), who served as chief scientific adviser to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown between 2000 and 2007 and has been a vocal critic of the current government’s handling of the pandemic. “Because there is no transparency the government can say they are following scientific advice but we don’t know that they are”.
Dubbed the ‘Independent Sage’ by King, the group held its first meeting in public on 4 May, followed by a press conference. A dozen researchers dialled in via Zoom with others contributing via Twitter. King said his group aims to provide the government with “robust, unbiased advice”.
On the same day, the official government Sage group revealed the names of most of its members, and the next day it published a second tranche of papers it has been using, after the first set of its ‘inputs’ was published on 20 March. This follows weeks of criticisms targeted at Sage for not disclosing its membership, not releasing its minutes, and not regularly publishing papers and advice it gives to ministers.
Current chief scientist Patrick Vallance (pictured right) this month said he is a “strong advocate of transparency and openness” and that his group’s advice should be published.
“I think it’s up to politicians to decide when they think they’re happy to have the advice that has gone to them released into the public domain,” he told a select committee hearing.
Regarding Covid-19 advice that comes out of ‘Independent Sage’, a government spokesperson told Research Fortnight: “This is a new virus and the science is emerging, so Sage is happy to receive scientific input from any group, as it already does.”
But not everyone thinks a separate group will solve concerns about Sage’s independence and transparency.
Melanie Smallman, a lecturer in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at University College London, said an ‘Independent Sage’ is “an oxymoron”.
“I don’t think setting up a rival group claiming greater independence is the answer to questions around Sage’s remit, independence and transparency,” she wrote in a comment piece for Research Fortnight.
This article also appeared in Research Fortnight