2009/04/17
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8001825.stm
By Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, BBC News
MI5 is to appoint a chief scientific adviser, BBC News has learned.
The role will involve working with senior intelligence staff to combat terrorism and support counter-intelligence operations.
The advert on MI5's website says candidates will need to have world-class scientific expertise and outstanding communication skills.
MI5 is the more common name for the Security Service, the UK's domestic intelligence agency.
The successful candidate will be "leading and co-ordinating the scientific work of the Security Service", the ad says.
The UK government's chief scientific adviser, Professor John Beddington, told BBC News: "There is a really important role in providing scientific and technological advice on addressing problems agents in the field will face.
"[The chief science adviser] has a role to frustrate terrorism to prevent espionage hurting the UK, protect our critical national infrastructure and to frustrate the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
