John Holmes is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, concerned with enhancing the use of science in environmental policy making, and an independent consultant. The early part of his career was in technology assessment and research management relating to the development of clean coal technologies. He subsequently moved to the nuclear industry as the director responsible for the science and, subsequently, the engineering of the UK’s radioactive waste disposal programme. A further move to the Environment Agency, the environmental regulator for England and Wales, as Head of its Science Programme preceded his joining the University of Oxford in 2004. He has also filled the role of Secretary to the EASAC Energy Programme.