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James Wilsdon

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International Science Policy Centre, The Royal Society

James Wilsdon is Director of the International Science Policy Centre at the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science. From 2001 to 2008, he worked at Demos, first as Head of Strategy, then Head of Science and Innovation.

Contact details:
Email: james[dot]wilsdon@royalsociety[dot]org

Expertise:
Science, innovation, new technologies, ethics, sustainability, higher education
Media Information:
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James Wilsdon is Director of the International Science Policy Centre (ISPC) at the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science. The Royal Society's mission is to expand the frontiers of knowledge through the development and use of science, engineering, medicine and mathematics for the benefit of humanity. As the Society prepares for its 350th anniversary in 2010, it is establishing the ISPC to provide high-quality scientific advice to policymakers, and to map and analyse the latest developments in science policy around the world. James became Director of the ISPC in September 2008. He is responsible for the development of the new Centre, and for the Society's science policy and international policy activities.


From 2004 to 2008, James was Head of Science and Innovation at Demos, and Director of the Atlas of Ideas project, which explored the new geography of science and innovation in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. He has researched and published widely on science and innovation policy, sustainable development, emerging technologies, and the globalisation of science, R&D and higher education. 

Prior to 2004, James spent three years as Head of Strategy at Demos, and from 1997 to 2001, he was Senior Policy Adviser at the sustainability charity Forum for the Future. He is an experienced public speaker and has lectured or presented in over twenty countries. His writing has featured in the Financial Times, Guardian, Times Higher Education, SEED, China Daily, OpenDemocracy, Renewal and Green Futures.

James has a first-class degree in philosophy and theology from Oxford University and a doctorate in technology policy from Middlesex University. He remains an Associate of Demos and Forum for the Future. He is also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies at Lancaster University, a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts and a Trustee of People and Planet. Aged 35, he lives in Cumbria with his wife and two sons, and divides his time between London and the Lake District.

His publications include:

His articles include: