The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has appointed Professor Mark Welland as the new Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA).

The CSA is responsible for providing high-quality scientific advice to ministers, senior officials and the armed forces, ensuring access to sound technical information and technology to support military operations.

Welland, who is currently Professor of Nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge, will take up the post next week.

He replaces Professor Sir Roy Anderson, who was appointed in 2004 and oversaw the implementation of the MoD’s Defence Technology Strategy in 2006.

By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh