The Sciencewise team were shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Sir Roland Jackson. Roland was Executive Chair of Sciencewise (2012-2016) and prior to that on its Steering Group. From 2016 onwards he was one of the programme’s quality assessors, bringing his expertise at the earliest stages of emergent dialogues to ensure commissioners benefitted from his wealth of experience.
Roland had a deep belief and commitment to public voice informing and shaping research and policy in science and technology. In all his roles he shaped the landscape within which public engagement and dialogue sits and the approaches we, and others, continue to adopt.
He worked at the top echelons of science policy and society, to name a few, as Chair of the “Science for All” Expert Group (2009-2010); Chief Executive of the British Science Association (2002-2013): BBSRC Science in Society Panel (2008-2014); Council member of Nuffield Council on Bioethics (2013-2019) and a Trustee of the Royal Institution (2019-2022). These roles brought him a unique and unrivalled depth of expertise and an ongoing legacy in how society navigates some of our most pressing challenges.
We will miss his quiet and sensitive leadership, sharp intellect, generous support and good humour.
On behalf of all the Sciencewise team, past and present, our deepest condolences to Roland’s family and friends.
