Interdisciplinary Environmental Social Scientists appointed to new DESNZ Science and Technology Advisory Council
Published on 18 July 2025
Three interdisciplinary Environmental Social Scientists have been appointed to the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero’s new Science and Technology Advisory Council.
Professor Benjamin Sovacool (ACCESS Leadership Team & University of Sussex), Professor Nicholas Pidgeon (ACCESS Co-Investigator & Cardiff University), and Professor Sara Walker (Co-Director of the Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC) & University of Birmingham) have been appointed to the new DESNZ Science and Technology Advisory Council.
The Science and Technology Advisory Council comprises 16 highly esteemed academic and industry experts. It will provide robust, scientific, evidence-based information to support key government decisions on overhauling our energy system to reach clean power by 2030.
It will also provide ministers with the most up-to-date and well-informed scientific evidence to improve decision-making and the effectiveness of policy implementation.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“Evidence-based decision-making is fundamental to the drive for clean power and tackling the climate crisis, with informed policymaking the key to securing a better, fairer world for current and future generations.
To give our mission the very best chance of success, the Science and Technology Advisory Council will draw on the knowledge and wisdom of some of the finest scientific minds of the nation – because clean power offers a huge prize of energy security, lower bills and good jobs.”
Their appointment is recognition of the value of interdisciplinary social science for policy on low carbon energy transitions.
Benjamin Sovacool said:
“I am delighted to be part of such a prestigious Council which highlights the importance the Government has placed on engaging with a broad evidence base in formulating its policies for a clean power future and transition to a net zero economy.”
Nicholas Pidgeon said:
“I’m delighted to be appointed to this influential Science Advisory Council at DESNZ. UK Government currently faces many difficult science questions in relation to both climate change and its clean energy mission. Social sciences need to be at the heart of our understanding of how the involvement of people, households and communities can help forge a more secure and sustainable future. Helping foster closer collaborations between the ACCESS community and DESNZ will also be an important part of my role on the Council.”