Back from Scotland

I’m back in the office today after reporting on science in the Agency to the Scottish Food Advisory Committee, followed by some annual leave on the Isle of Bute.

I was exposed to a new Scottish culinary trend (frozen grapes with cheese, anyone?) and then attended the wedding of a colleague who leads on the Agency’s consumer policy work.

I hope she’ll return from her honeymoon with lots of applications to join and chair the Agency’s new Advisory Committee on Consumer Engagement, which she and her team are in the process of setting up.

The ads went out this week. It will be an important committee and complement our expert scientific committees, plus the one we’re planning to launch next year to help us with out social science research programme. Science attempts to provide an objective understanding of phenomena whereas consumer evidence is more about feelings and emotions (there was lots of that at the wedding, by the way).

But this is all part of the overall package of information we need to ensure our policies are fully informed by all available evidence. So we want experts in consumer engagement, from all walks of life, who will act as an external challenge. We’re not necessarily looking for people who represent consumer organisations though. This is more about tapping into ways of making sure the views of ordinary people are heard by the Agency.

If you think you fit the bill or know somebody that might, check out the advert.If you’ve got any general views about consumer engagement and how you feel the Agency goes about it, have your say on the blog.

And finally, if you want to know what I get up to when I’m not going to weddings and marvelling at the delights of Scottish cuisine, check out this week’s New Scientist, which includes a profile of me and my role. I was interviewed a while back, but said I’d let you know when it appeared.