Professor Patricia Thornley appointed as new DfT Chief Scientific Adviser
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-02)

Professor Patricia Thornley brings extensive expertise across sustainable energy and clean transport, ensuring science advice is vital to decision-making.

- new chief scientific adviser appointed, reinforcing our leadership in science at a national level
- she brings extensive expertise across sustainable energy and clean transport, which will help shape evidence‑based policy and advance the UK’s transition to net zero
- her role will be central to ensuring that excellent science advice sits at the heart of decision‑making and strengthens coordination across departments through the Chief Scientific Adviser Network
The Department for Transport (DfT) has appointed Professor Patricia Thornley as its new Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA).

Professor Thornley is a highly respected leader in the field of sustainable energy, recognised for her extensive contributions to advancing low‑carbon innovation and clean technologies.

She is currently based at Aston University, where she directs the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute and will join DfT early next year.

She brings 3 decades of experience spanning bioenergy, clean transport and negative emissions. Her leadership of major national initiatives such as the Supergen Bioenergy Hub and the Clean Maritime Policy Unit reflects her ability to connect cutting‑edge research with real‑world impact. Alongside this, she plays an influential role in government science advice as Deputy Chair of DfT’s Scientific Advisory Council (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/dft-science-advisory-council) and as a member of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Science Advisory Council (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/desnz-science-and-technology-advisory-council).

Patricia takes on the role from Professor Sarah Sharples, who served the department as its chief scientific adviser for 4 years. Professor Sharples moved to the University of Manchester in September as the new vice-president and dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Similar to her predecessor, Professor Thornley is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and was previously Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems at the University of Manchester.

Her expertise will be invaluable as the government continues to strengthen innovation across the transport system and the use of science and research in everything it does.

Jo Shanmugalingam, Permanent Secretary, said:

Science, innovation and technology are at the heart of how we’re modernising transport for today’s world.

I’m thrilled to welcome Patricia as our new Chief Scientific Adviser. Her experience in research and innovation will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our science capability.

Professor Patricia Thornley said:

Transport touches on the lives of practically everyone and so it is a huge honour and privilege to be appointed as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department for Transport.

The responsibility for providing scientific evidence to inform government decision-making in transport will build on my sustainable engineering background, but the UK academic community has vast breadth and depth of expertise applicable to transport and so positively drawing on that will be vital.

Aston University thrives on applying engineering understanding for societal impact and benefit and I look forward to continuing to do just that as Chief Scientific Adviser at DfT.

Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean, said:

Congratulations to Professor Patricia Thornley on being appointed as the Department for Transport’s new Chief Scientific Adviser. An experienced researcher, she will bring great insight into sustainability to the chief scientist network. I look forward to working with her.

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