NATURE: UK government appoints next chief scientific adviser

Brexit is likely to boost the day-to-day importance of chief scientific advisor's role, but Vallance will also have to reinvent other, more informal aspects of the position, says Kieron Flanagan, a science-policy researcher at the Alliance Manchester Business School. The creation of UK Research and Innovation, intended to increase the power of UK research-funding bodies, means Walport will continue to wield great influence over science in government. The chief scientific adviser has traditionally been the voice of science in government, Flanagan says.