The Burntwood Lecture, which takes place in November of each year, provides an opportunity for an eminent speaker to talk on a current, critical and often controversial environmental theme.

Our speaker Charles Jonathan Godfray CBE FRS is Hope Professor of Zoology at Jesus College Oxford University.

This lecture will explore the complex and often contentious role of scientific evidence and scientists in informing environmental policy. Evidence from the natural and social sciences is often essential in framing policy and hence researchers and specialists have a critical role in generating and interpreting the information needed by decision makers. Scientists can adopt different, but equally valid, roles in these debates, for example as informed advocates for a particular position or as policy-neutral evaluators of the evidence landscape. In this lecture Professor Godfray will describe a project which he co-leads at the Oxford Martin School which is seeking to develop a model of policy-neutral evidence summaries for decision makers. He will use examples from debates over the control of bovine TB, and neonicitinoid insecticides, as well as discussing more generally his views on how evidence can be better provided for, and used by, policy makers.

The invited audience, numbering around 150, are persons of true significance in the environmental field from the professions, universities and government.

This event is free for IES members. To reserve a ticket email Emma Fell.

Registration is from 18.00 with refreshments served before and after the lecture which will commence at approximately 18:45. The event is set to finish by 21:00.

Address: Rooms on Regents Park 27 Sussex Place, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RG. Directions to the venue can be found on the  RORP's website.

If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please download the sponsorship pack.