The government has announced today that Nusrat Ghani has been appointed the UK Minister for Science and Investment Security.

Nusrat, MP for Wealden in East Sussex, takes on the role after George Freeman quit on 7^th July.

She was appointed Minster of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in September of this year and has now been confirmed as holding the science remit. She was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport from January 2018 to February 2020.

Some of her responsibilities will include scientific research, Horizon Europe membership and innovation strategy.

Dr Mark Downs CBiol FRSB, chief executive of the RSB, welcomes Nusrat and says: “The Royal Society of Biology look forward to working closely with the new minister and our sector to ensure the government continues to recognise the importance of a vibrant and well-funded environment for life sciences.

“We hope to build a close working relationship with Nusrat Ghani and others to expand support, skills and potential across the full landscape of life sciences which covers – microbial, plant, animal, human, ecological and molecular sciences.

“Science and innovation are key to providing solutions for many global and national challenges. To maximise the economic, environmental, health and societal benefit of investment in science there must be an integrated approach across government. To achieve that we urge the Government to put science at the heart of Government thinking through direct ministerial representation within the cabinet.”