Committee and Speakers

Professor Phil Blythe

Professor Phil Blythe CEng, FIET is Professor of Intelligent Transport Systems and served as Director of the Transport Operations Research Group at Newcastle University for 13 years until stepping down from this post in June 2015 to take up a three year, 3-day a week appointment as Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Transport (DfT).

Phil continues as Professor of ITS in part time capacity during this period focusing on research project generation and delivery, PhD student supervision, lectures on a number of ITS Masters Modules and supports the University in a strategic engagement role.

In his role at the DfT he provides a challenge function to the Department on the use of science and engineering evidence in policy making and also ensuring the Department is best informed on new innovations and technologies that may impact on the delivery of transport schemes. Through the CSA network he also ensures that there is significant cross-government cooperation on science, engineering and technology issues. The network of Chief Scientific Advisers (CSA’s) across Government Departments support and advise the Government Chief Scientific Adviser on all aspects of policy on science and technology. In particular, they:

  • provide advice to ministers, through the Cabinet committee system
  • discuss and facilitate implementation of policy on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
  • identify and share good practice in STEM-related areas, including the use of scientific advice in policy making
  • facilitate communication on particular high profile STEM-related issues and those posing new challenges for government.