In the 2012 Civil Service Reform Plan (under the coalition government – remember how we used to be critical of them?), there was a general commitment towards making the whole policy-making process more transparent and open to multiple voices (see Civil-Service-Reform-Plan-final). This has been forgotten under subsequent governments (indeed the page for this plan has… Read More Principles of Policy Transparency seeming being forgotten by the Current Government..

To make sure predictions do not become adjuncts to a political cause, modellers, decision makers and citizens need to establish new social norms. Modellers must not be permitted to project more certainty than their models deserve; and politicians must not be allowed to offload accountability to models of their choosing Quick summary: Mind the assumptions… Read More Manifesto in Nature: Five ways to ensure that models serve society

Building on report from OpenAI and others (http://www.towardtrustworthyai.com/) an article in WIRED argues for citizen councils to do this regulation, though how this might work is sketchy. See article at: https://www.wired.com/story/opinion-a-council-of-citizens-should-regulate-algorithms/

Sense about science (https://senseaboutscience.org/) campaigns on similar issues to this site.  They have recently written to the prime minister asking for a “fresh approach to scientific advice” . In particular, asking … you could ensure that SAGE’s minutes, membership, and plans for its expansion are open  for people to see, as so many are urging.… Read More Transparency Matters @ Sense about Science

As this article says: The giant data set was never made available for inspection by other scientists, which would be critical for demonstrating that results are reproducible. More astounding, the private and secretive company that owned the data, called Surgisphere, denied full access to the papers’ authors too. That’s bad faith, and it violates best… Read More Wired: Discussing the Latest Covid-19 Science Meltdown

“Scientists and doctors in advisory positions face a dual obligation to the state and to the public. But what happens when the government’s integrity no longer matches your personal or professional integrity, when your public accountability seems greater than that of the politicians you advise? Do you fight from within? Do you speak out, and… Read More BMJ article questions the UK Gov’s lack of clarity between scientific advice and politics

Despite the fact that I think #DominicCummings is dangerous (because of his arrogance), he is an advisor – not a politician. He has never stood for office, nor put himself up as a particularly worthy person. Thus he should not resign on this kind of matter. He is responsible for his advice and nothing else.… Read More Calls for Dominic Cummings to resign are misplaced

The backlash against the Fergusson-Imperial model continues (e.g. this piece in the Tellegraph). Yes it would have been better if Nature had forced Fegusson to publish his code 8 years ago, then (a) he would have checked and tidied it then and (b) people would have been able to check and improve on it over… Read More Fergusson code under fire for being “a mess”

A case brought by millionaire, Simon Dolan who said: “I believe it is absolutely crucial in holding the government to account – they have introduced entirely unprecedented restrictions on basic freedoms, caused the losses of millions of jobs, destroyed businesses, incurred eye-watering amounts of debt, which will take generations to pay back, and yet they… Read More Government faces legal action over refusal to publish scientific advisory group minutes