Professor Brooke Rogers OBE, Professor of Behavioural Science and Security at the School of Security Studies, King's College London, has been appointed as Chair of the Home Office Science Advisory Council (HOSAC). 

Professor Rogers will support the Home Office Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) in providing independent scientific advice to the Home Office on matters relevant to its policy and operations, and in engaging and communicating the importance and impact of scientific issues that may present opportunities or threats to the department.

Commenting on her appointment, Professor Rogers said: “I am delighted to have been selected as Chair of HOSAC. Scientific advice can make a significant difference to the effectiveness of government and policy making which in turn benefits people’s lives. I look forward to working with the other members of the committee to provide relevant multi-disciplinary insights and build links between the Home Office and the wider scientific community.”

The Home Office is comprised of three overarching systems - Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Borders Immigration and Citizenship. Science and technology, together with research and analysis, are vital to its work as they provide the capabilities and evidence-base underpinning Home Office policies and operational practice across law enforcement, counter terrorism and borders, immigration and citizenship. 

Professor Rogers will play a key role in maintaining the role played by HOSAC, whilst implementing strategies to strengthen and grow the Council’s use and visibility across the Home Office. This appointment follows her previously influential work in the field of social psychology, in particular the role of risk communication in informing public and practitioner responses to low-likelihood, high-impact events such as terrorism.

Professor Wyn Bowen, Head of the School of Security Studies, added “I would like to congratulate Brooke on this appointment which is highly deserved and highlights the School’s ongoing contribution to the strategic aims set out in Vision 2029, in particular our commitment to carrying out world-class research and to serve society.

Watch Brooke Rogers' Research Spotlight (Communication in a Crisis)