Wednesday
Feb092011
by 
Bishop Hill
Bishop Hill DEFRA science advisors
Feb 9, 2011 Bureaucrats The Department of the Environment, Food and the Regions are looking for scientific advisors. Anyone want the odd day of consultancy work?
Reader Comments (18)
So that will be someone from the a) Grauniad, b) WWF, c) Greenpeace, d) Friends of the Earth, plus Bob Ward, and Lord Oxburgh,
Seems a waste of money to advertise it
Welcome to hell, here is your climatologist.
What about Prince Charles? He seems to know all about it.
Since the members of the Science Advisory Council advise the Chief Scientific Adviser, who is Bob Watson, then it is a waste of time and money because Watson is an extreme warmist alarmist. I've already advised Defra to get rid of Watson, but they haven't heeded my advice (or replied to me) so I don't think I stand much chance of getting one of these posts.
"Defra is committed to improving the diversity of its public bodies and welcomes applications irrespective of race, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age or gender re-assignment.
We particularly welcome interest from under-represented groups, including individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic communities; and disabled people – for whom we offer an interview access scheme."
Damn, that's me not eligible, then. No science background required?
So Charles wonders about sceptics
This implication is that if it weren't for sceptics, then a massive anti-AGW effort would already be under-way.
So where's his evidence for that, I wonder?
Strange how the PC part outweighs anything about, well, qualifications that may be needed. All very post-normal. Tempted to apply, attend interview in an LBD clutching my alchemy PhD and see what happens.
Do you think I have a chance, seeing that I'm a member of a disadvantaged group (pensioners, Defra can't surely be seen to be ageist??)? I could even make a song-and-dance about my infirmity, thus also ticking the 'disability' box ...
I thought this job
http://publicappts.defra.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=13
for a Chair of Gangmasters something or other seemed more exciting. Doesn't pay quite as well per day but does, at least, have an expected number of days per annum of work. The science job does not seem to offer a clear indication of how many days are required of one. There may be so few it would not be worth considering complicating the tax return with the income.
Apparently DEFRA's 3 primary responsibilties are:
• support and develop British farming and encourage sustainable food production
• help to enhance the environment and biodiversity to improve quality of life
• support a strong and sustainable green economy, resilient to climate change;
One actually suspects the farmers are quite capable of dealing with the first one if only they were left alone to get on with it. With regard to the second one - improve quality of life for whom? People who actually have to earn a living off the land or the urban visitors who think the countryside is really just somewhere for ramblers to play and protest against real country people shooting vermin?
And then of course the inevtiable Climate Change driving government policy...
Coincidently, the Met Office is advertising two Neddy jobs (Non-Executive Directors). Only £20K per annum, for 2 or 3 days work a month. Mmmm, nice!
Why?
The Met Office has an ambitious strategy to become more customer-focused in the
delivery of its public services, and to grow the commercial element of its business
both in the public and private sectors. At the same time, it also faces crucial
international strategic decisions, such as whether to compete or collaborate with
other national met services. As a result, the Met Office faces substantial change and
transformation issues.
What kind of jobs?
One is a policy-mandarin...
For the first position, experience, and a strong current understanding, of service
delivery within Whitehall, preferably in a science and/or technology context.
Ideally, the successful applicant will have senior level connections in a range of
Departments or other public sector bodies, and experience of working with
organisations which, like the Met Office, deliver core services and policy advice
across government.
The other is a commercialisation guru..
The second position stems from the other priority for the Met Office: leveraging
its brand, skills and assets to build a thriving and successful commercial
business. The successful applicant will have a proven track record of success
in a commercial sphere, in particular leading the successful commercialisation
of an existing brand into new markets. Ideally, this experience will have been
gained in a science or technology context.
Who mentioned privatisation?
Full details: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/recruitment/vacancies/info_for_neds.pdf
I can't see anyone with an opinion worth hearing would apply at those daily rates. No wonder DEFRA so frequently come to the wrong conclusions.
Don't forget this about DEFRA:
UK government asked UEA to create climate ‘headline’
They were looking for a climate indicator which had 'public resonance', including food poisoning and others.
For the pay they offer, hell, I'd march around waving a green banner as well.
The problem is that they can offer people money to do that, not that people take it up.
Yes I thought about applying, but realised that I would be found out at interview.
I can see the Chairman's notes now -
Knows too much about science.
Shows sceptic tendencies.
Does not fit any of the minority group requirements except being an old git.
"We particularly welcome interest from under-represented groups,"
ie Sceptics!
Sam Thanks.
Had to wait till the end of that one to find DEFRA actually called to order by UEA for proposing, among other potential but variably dubious climate change indicators, a 'headline indicator of the socio-economic impacts of climate change' to inform the public, one being a detrended variant of food poisoning stats which conveniently show an 'exponentially rising trend over time' which would 'satisfy criteria related to policy relevance and public resonance', but where 'the long-term rising trend is likely to be due to failures in public and domestic hygiene.'
UEA CRU apparently replied “Public resonance” isn’t a very scientific reason for keeping things in which are only marginally correlated with climate, unless the other factors can be backed out (e.g. in the case of ozone, presumably we could model out the changing precursor emissions)?'
But of course, there's modelling and modelling when a trend and a message is required.
Checked out the advert. Being white, male, heterosexual and fully abled I haven't a hope of getting the job.