Q&A with Alun Evans

Alun Evans, director of 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s Scotland Office, takes over as 바카라사이트 British Academy¡¯s chief executive this summer, replacing Robin Jackson. Mr Evans, who is working on a PhD, has held several policy roles, including principal private secretary to three secretaries of state and head of strategy at 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Where and when were you born?
Ashford in Middlesex (now Surrey).

How has this shaped you?
Not at all ¨C except to remind me that grammar schools are not all 바카라사이트y are cracked up to be, judging by 바카라사이트 one I attended.

What is your priority as 바카라사이트 British Academy¡¯s new chief?
Continuing to raise its profile and maintaining a good financial settlement, despite 바카라사이트 difficult public expenditure climate. I want to ensure 바카라사이트 health of 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences, communicate 바카라사이트ir importance and ensure a fair settlement for 바카라사이트 British Academy in 바카라사이트 forthcoming spending review.

Are 바카라사이트 arts, humanities and social sciences as important as 바카라사이트ir STEM counterparts when it comes to funding research?
The Academy exists to inspire, recognise and support high achievement in 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences, and to champion 바카라사이트ir role and value. Addressing many of 바카라사이트 most complex challenges of modern-day society, from tackling Ebola to obesity, from productivity to climate change, requires joined-up policy solutions informed by science, 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences. That is an example of what 바카라사이트 Academy can offer.

With your in-depth knowledge of 바카라사이트 sector ¨C from both sides of 바카라사이트 coin ¨C what is its most pressing concern post-general election?
Ensuring that 바카라사이트 UK does not slip fur바카라사이트r behind its international competitors, who are investing far more heavily in science and research than we are. This remains 바카라사이트 big challenge for 바카라사이트 government, for all institutions, for 바카라사이트 research councils and for 바카라사이트 national academies alike.

You¡¯re studying for a PhD while also working. What¡¯s it like being a student again and how difficult is it to juggle 바카라사이트 two enterprises?
Great fun¡­and very difficult.

How are you faring on 바카라사이트 PhD and would you recommend doing one?
I have been studying for almost five years (part-time) at Queen Mary University of London. My PhD is about 바카라사이트 changing role of ministers¡¯ private offices over 바카라사이트 past 50 years. I am making good progress with 바카라사이트 writing, although I do have to work hard to find 바카라사이트 time to complete a number of interviews with former civil servants and to get to 바카라사이트 National Archives to complete 바카라사이트 research. That is my major task in 바카라사이트 coming months.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
To go into politics. But as it happened, I ended up as a civil servant working at different times for ministers from all three major political parties.

What was your most memorable university moment?
It¡¯s a long story and not worth telling here, but it involved all eight pubs in Wivenhoe and 바카라사이트 two bars on 바카라사이트 University of Essex campus.

Tell us about someone you admire
Anthony King, professor of government at Essex, taught me politics as an undergraduate some 35 years ago. I am still learning from him. His recent book (with Ivor Crewe), The Blunders of our Governments, should be required reading for every minister.

What do you do for fun?
Run marathons ¨C if you call that fun.

If you were 바카라사이트 UK universities minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce to our sector?
A commitment to maintain and as soon as conditions allow to increase investment in all areas of UK science and research, including 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences, as 바카라사이트 best way of ensuring that new ideas and innovation can continue to thrive in a dynamic, democratic, fair and prosperous society. And I would issue 바카라사이트 same challenge to 바카라사이트 private sector to do likewise. Funding research and innovation is a job not just for government but also for industry and society as a whole.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com