Sir Ian Boyd is Bishop Wardlaw Professor in the School of Biology at the University of St. Andrews, Chair of the UK Research Integrity Office, and President of the Royal Society of Biology. He was Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government on Food and the Environment from 2012 to 2019.

"A must-read for the scientist who believes their evidence is impartial and important and for the policy-maker who champions their decisions as evidence-based. In an elegant exposé, Boyd proves both views are flawed and offers a way forward  for both to operate effectively in the politics factory."Dame Judith Petts, University of Plymouth"Working with Ian Boyd at DEFRA, I found him to be an incisive and energetic thinker, unafraid to challenge the ideological status quo. Science and Politics is a vital contribution to our understanding of how science can and should inform political decision-making. Boyd points out that, however much we would like to, it is impossible fully to separate science and politics – they dance together in an often tumultuous relationship. Boyd describes politics as a complex, organic system resistant to change through small interventions. This profound insight underscores the need for bold, systemic reforms rather than incremental tweaks. It's time we heed his advice and embrace the substantial changes necessary for a just and sustainable future."Henry Dimbleby, author of Ravenous and the National Food Strategy"In this inspiring, if somewhat harrowing, tour of the catacombs underpinning our scientific and political establishments, Ian Boyd draws upon his personal journey from Antarctic scientist, to CSA, to an unleashed version of the off-piste big thinker that he is. This book highlights the clear and present danger of science being poisoned by hocus-pocus or kidnapped by the political factory, whilst offering marriage guidance on a potentially less dysfunctional relationship between science and politics."Paul Clarke, CBE FREng, independent adviser, inventor and former CTO of Ocado"Brilliantly written and thought-provoking, Boyd’s book is a warning to scientists that manufacturing evidence designed to please ministers or win ideological battles will do neither, because people will stop trusting them. Every page brings more great insights, compelling examples and sentences I know I will want to quote for years to come."Fiona Fox, Chief Executive of the Science Media Centre“I loved this book… [Its] narrative never shies away from robust language, yet it somehow retains an upbeat tenor throughout.” Nature"This is an important book that should be read by anyone who cares about how government can better integrate the best science into policy."Science magazine

• Introduction – The Scientific PredicamentPart 1: A Troubled Marriage1.             Beyond two cultures2.             The anatomy of a troubled marriage3.             Inside the politics factory4.             Rationalising the politics factory5.             Gateways to the politics factory6.             Shoring up the marriagePart 2: The Corruption of Science7.             The subjective by-pass8.             Products of the politics factory – Evidence: quod erat demonstrandum9.             ‘What works’ in the factory?10.          Following the crowd11.          Trust in experts12.          Redefining qualityPart 3: Taming the Beast13.          Playing the paradigm game14.          Taming wickedness15.          Adaptive policy testing: Making policy into science16.          More than just widgets17.          Fixing the marriage

Sir Ian Boyd is Bishop Wardlaw Professor in the School of Biology at the University of St. Andrews, Chair of the UK Research Integrity Office, and President of the Royal Society of Biology. He was Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government on Food and the Environment from 2012 to 2019.

"A must-read for the scientist who believes their evidence is impartial and important and for the policy-maker who champions their decisions as evidence-based. In an elegant exposé, Boyd proves both views are flawed and offers a way forward  for both to operate effectively in the politics factory."Dame Judith Petts, University of Plymouth"Working with Ian Boyd at DEFRA, I found him to be an incisive and energetic thinker, unafraid to challenge the ideological status quo. Science and Politics is a vital contribution to our understanding of how science can and should inform political decision-making. Boyd points out that, however much we would like to, it is impossible fully to separate science and politics – they dance together in an often tumultuous relationship. Boyd describes politics as a complex, organic system resistant to change through small interventions. This profound insight underscores the need for bold, systemic reforms rather than incremental tweaks. It's time we heed his advice and embrace the substantial changes necessary for a just and sustainable future."Henry Dimbleby, author of Ravenous and the National Food Strategy"In this inspiring, if somewhat harrowing, tour of the catacombs underpinning our scientific and political establishments, Ian Boyd draws upon his personal journey from Antarctic scientist, to CSA, to an unleashed version of the off-piste big thinker that he is. This book highlights the clear and present danger of science being poisoned by hocus-pocus or kidnapped by the political factory, whilst offering marriage guidance on a potentially less dysfunctional relationship between science and politics."Paul Clarke, CBE FREng, independent adviser, inventor and former CTO of Ocado"Brilliantly written and thought-provoking, Boyd’s book is a warning to scientists that manufacturing evidence designed to please ministers or win ideological battles will do neither, because people will stop trusting them. Every page brings more great insights, compelling examples and sentences I know I will want to quote for years to come."Fiona Fox, Chief Executive of the Science Media Centre“I loved this book… [Its] narrative never shies away from robust language, yet it somehow retains an upbeat tenor throughout.” Nature"This is an important book that should be read by anyone who cares about how government can better integrate the best science into policy."Science magazine

• Introduction – The Scientific PredicamentPart 1: A Troubled Marriage1.             Beyond two cultures2.             The anatomy of a troubled marriage3.             Inside the politics factory4.             Rationalising the politics factory5.             Gateways to the politics factory6.             Shoring up the marriagePart 2: The Corruption of Science7.             The subjective by-pass8.             Products of the politics factory – Evidence: quod erat demonstrandum9.             ‘What works’ in the factory?10.          Following the crowd11.          Trust in experts12.          Redefining qualityPart 3: Taming the Beast13.          Playing the paradigm game14.          Taming wickedness15.          Adaptive policy testing: Making policy into science16.          More than just widgets17.          Fixing the marriage

Sir Ian Boyd is Bishop Wardlaw Professor in the School of Biology at the University of St. Andrews, Chair of the UK Research Integrity Office, and President of the Royal Society of Biology. He was Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government on Food and the Environment from 2012 to 2019.

"A must-read for the scientist who believes their evidence is impartial and important and for the policy-maker who champions their decisions as evidence-based. In an elegant exposé, Boyd proves both views are flawed and offers a way forward  for both to operate effectively in the politics factory."Dame Judith Petts, University of Plymouth"Working with Ian Boyd at DEFRA, I found him to be an incisive and energetic thinker, unafraid to challenge the ideological status quo. Science and Politics is a vital contribution to our understanding of how science can and should inform political decision-making. Boyd points out that, however much we would like to, it is impossible fully to separate science and politics – they dance together in an often tumultuous relationship. Boyd describes politics as a complex, organic system resistant to change through small interventions. This profound insight underscores the need for bold, systemic reforms rather than incremental tweaks. It's time we heed his advice and embrace the substantial changes necessary for a just and sustainable future."Henry Dimbleby, author of Ravenous and the National Food Strategy"In this inspiring, if somewhat harrowing, tour of the catacombs underpinning our scientific and political establishments, Ian Boyd draws upon his personal journey from Antarctic scientist, to CSA, to an unleashed version of the off-piste big thinker that he is. This book highlights the clear and present danger of science being poisoned by hocus-pocus or kidnapped by the political factory, whilst offering marriage guidance on a potentially less dysfunctional relationship between science and politics."Paul Clarke, CBE FREng, independent adviser, inventor and former CTO of Ocado"Brilliantly written and thought-provoking, Boyd’s book is a warning to scientists that manufacturing evidence designed to please ministers or win ideological battles will do neither, because people will stop trusting them. Every page brings more great insights, compelling examples and sentences I know I will want to quote for years to come."Fiona Fox, Chief Executive of the Science Media Centre“I loved this book… [Its] narrative never shies away from robust language, yet it somehow retains an upbeat tenor throughout.” Nature"This is an important book that should be read by anyone who cares about how government can better integrate the best science into policy."Science magazine

• Introduction – The Scientific PredicamentPart 1: A Troubled Marriage1.             Beyond two cultures2.             The anatomy of a troubled marriage3.             Inside the politics factory4.             Rationalising the politics factory5.             Gateways to the politics factory6.             Shoring up the marriagePart 2: The Corruption of Science7.             The subjective by-pass8.             Products of the politics factory – Evidence: quod erat demonstrandum9.             ‘What works’ in the factory?10.          Following the crowd11.          Trust in experts12.          Redefining qualityPart 3: Taming the Beast13.          Playing the paradigm game14.          Taming wickedness15.          Adaptive policy testing: Making policy into science16.          More than just widgets17.          Fixing the marriage