Professor Sir John Aston: Research and its role in society

Tue 25 February 2025

Wolfson College

Overview:
In this talk Professor Sir John Aston will provide an overview of the role played by senior academic leadership on the University’s research activities. He will give insights into how his role contributes to and is responsible for sustaining and enhancing a supportive research culture which allows Cambridge to continue to flourish as an outstanding research?intensive institution with worldwide influence.

He will reflect on his vision for the University, particularly his initiative to develop large-scale, cross-School initiatives to tackle global challenges and increase the positive impact of Cambridge’s research on society. He will also touch on the importance of the relationship between research and public policy for society, especially from his time as the Home Office Chief Scientific Adviser and Director-General of Science, Technology, Analysis, Research and Strategy during the Covid-19 pandemic.


Speaker:
Professor Sir John Aston is the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of Cambridge and is the Harding Professor of Statistics in Public Life.

John is a non-executive board member of the UK Statistics Authority and from 2017-2020 was Chief Scientific Adviser to the Home Office and Director-General for Science, Technology, Analysis, Research and Strategy.

He was a founding director of the Alan Turing Institute.

He is a member of the London Policing Board and president-elect of the Royal Statistical Society, where he will serve as president in 2025-26.

He is a Fellow of Churchill College, University of Cambridge.

John was knighted in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to statistics and public policymaking.


Access:
This event will take place in the Dining Hall on the first floor of our main building. There is step-free access with a lift and an accessible toilet.

Cost: Free