Civil Service in the news
Man of science
6/12/2007 - Department for Environment and Rural Affairs [External website] 
Defra's recently appointed Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Robert Watson
For those that don't know you, can you tell us a bit about your background?
I've had something of a double career. I began working life as a research scientist into atmospheric chemistry. I then worked for NASA, for the Clinton/Gore White House as a science adviser on environmental issues, and for the World Bank in various positions, culminating in chief scientist.
Parallel to all of that, I've been involved as chair, co-chair or director in a series of major international science assessments, including on stratospheric ozone depletion, biodiversity, ecosystems, climate change and, most recently, agriculture. So I evolved very quickly from being a scientist to working at the science-policy interface.
You've spent a long time on the other side of the Atlantic.
I left the UK in 1973 to do a one year postdoctorate at Berkeley after I finished my PhD at Queen Mary College at London University. I stayed for 34 years.
What attracted you to the Defra role?
I had decided to leave the World Bank and take a position as chair of environmental sciences at the University of East Anglia, and to be the director for strategic development at the Tyndall Centre - which coordinates the research of half a dozen universities on climate change. Miles Parker, head of Defra's Science Directorate, let me know that Howard Dalton was stepping down, and suggested that I might be interested in the post.
In many respects it's very similar to the position I held in the White House, with two primary functions: first, ensuring Defra research is both policy relevant and extremely high quality; and ensuring that government policy is based on good science, so when ministers make decisions, they have the best scientific knowledge to hand.
I felt that the combination of working four days a week here for Defra, and one and a half for the Tyndall Centre, was really interesting. It enables me to work both with the scientists that do the research day in, day out, and at the science-policy interface.
First impressions?
There are clearly some very dedicated staff here. I've been particularly impressed by the way my induction period has been organised, allowing me to meet lots of people across the Department. And it's been interesting to observe the handling of Foot and Mouth Disease. It's not my area of expertise, but it looks like a professional, transparent, inclusive and efficient machine.
What are your key priorities for the Department?
To some degree 'priorities' are the very reasons that I am here - to try to ensure that the research funding available is used in the best way. Allied to that it is important to have an understanding of the way Defra research fits in with UK research, and how that fits in with European research. It's important that we have a holistic research programme that meets the policy needs of the Government, both in terms of domestic action and international responsibility.
If you weren't a scientist, what would you be?
I really have no idea. I have a stepson who is a ski instructor in winter and a mountain bike instructor in summer. That might be nice. I think the crucial thing is to enjoy your job.
When I give commencement speeches at university graduation ceremonies I often cite something that Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, once said at a commencement speech he gave at Stanford University. You should look in the mirror every morning and ask yourself: 'Am I going to enjoy going to work today?' If for three days in a row the answer is no, then you should change jobs. An easy philosophy to adopt if you've got millions of dollars, certainly, but the point is to enjoy what you are doing.
What are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint?
I probably won't have a car here in the UK. As well as taking on Howard Dalton's role I've also taken on his small apartment, which is a very handy five minute walk from my office in Nobel House. There's no point having a car here in London. And in Norwich I live two and a half miles from the University, so I'm using the bus. My bicycle has just arrived from the States, so in the summer I'll get on that.
How do you like to relax and spend your spare time?
I'll try and fit in a couple of short ski trips to the US, to see my daughter and stepchildren. And I'm looking forward to spending a bit of time cycling around Norfolk. I know the area very well - my mother was born in Norwich and moved back there after she retired. I've also promised my wife that we're going to take some time to enjoy London - going to the theatre, for example. We've been to see Billy Elliot already - it was excellent.