Professor Paul Monks CB, FRMetS, FRSC, FInstP
Biography
Professor Paul Monks CB is the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Paul delivers independent and impartial science and engineering advice to ministers and policymakers across the DESNZ policy and delivery portfolio and Clean Energy Superpower Mission. The CSA is also responsible for ensuring the department has robust systems in place to access science and engineering expertise, including as co-chair of the DESNZ Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) and as departmental Head of the Government Science and Engineering Profession.
Prior to DESNZ, Paul was CSA for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) from 2020 to 2023. Before joining BEIS, he was Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Leicester, where he remains a Professor in Atmospheric Chemistry and Earth Observation Science.
Paul was previously Chair of the Defra Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) and Deputy Chair of the Defra Science Advisory Council, alongside roles in the UKRI-NERC advice structures. He has worked internationally as the European representative on the Environmental Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry Scientific Steering Committee (EPAC SSC) of the World Meteorological Organisation and on the International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (ICACGP).
As founding director of G-STEP (a university innovation initiative), he developed a business facing organisation with the aim of innovating using satellite-based earth observation (EO) data to enhance the competitiveness of industry, particularly focused on small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).
Professor Paul Monks was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the King’s New Year Honours 2025 for Services to Science in Government.
DESNZ Chief Scientific Adviser
The DESNZ Chief Scientific Adviser is responsible for:
- providing independent advice and challenge to the department to ensure DESNZ policies and contributions to wider government issues are robust, evidence-based and underpinned by the best science and engineering advice available
- maintaining strong links to academia and external experts, and working closely with other departmental CSAs to maximise the collective expertise of the cross-government CSA network in identifying and resolving cross-departmental problems
- acting as departmental head of the Government Science and Engineering Profession, helping to provide access to the necessary tools and learning to support scientists and engineers in their work and career development in government