What is the role of science as an institution in a world where trust in institutions, elites and experts may be in decline? How can we ensure respect for the place of scientifically derived knowledge, and for ensuring the distinction between fact and opinion, and how can we ensure policy makers are appropriately taking knowledgeinformed evidence into account?

I discuss these questions from the perspective of having being the Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand for the last 8 years. My primary role has been to enhance the use of evidence in policy.