GO-Science and the GCSA are committed to ensuring science advice provided to Ministers and officials is relevant and fit-for-purpose. The nature and demands of the pandemic, including the spotlight on SAGE, has required action to be undertaken to refine and improve the way the science advice is communicated. During the Covid- 19 pandemic GO-Science has, with the support of SAGE participants: • Worked with the Science Media Centre to host on-the-record briefings on key topics for science and health correspondents, to explain current scientific evidence on Covid-19. • Facilitated regular background briefings on a weekly or fortnightly basis for science journalists to explain data and the technical content of SAGE papers, and to inform reporting on other key areas of evidence and long-term thinking relating to Covid-19. • Facilitated work with the learned society to deliver ‘ask the expert’ sessions on Covid-19 science topics to Parliament and the Devolved Administrations. • Arranged teach-ins to ensure government officials remain fully briefed on the current science surrounding Covid-19. Additionally, the GCSA has authored op-eds in the mainstream press to inform the public on the science behind issues such as vaccines development, and he has also responded directly to questions on Covid-19 from viewers during ITV and Sky News appearances. GO-Science will work with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) and Cabinet Office on the evolution of SAGE guidance and government communications more generally to build on the lessons learned from the pandemic to further develop their approach to science communications. The Government will also work with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to evaluate the communication of science during the pandemic. Recognising the risks of misinformation and conflicting advice on public health and safety, it was an early objective of UKRI to ensure that scientific evidence around Covid-19 was communicated effectively to the public, complementing other channels such as via guidance produced by PHE. In support of this and at the request of the GCSA, UKRI launched the Coronavirus Explained website19 in March 2020 to provide authoritative 19 https://coronavirusexplained.ukri.org/en/ and up-to-date explanations of the scientific evidence related to the Covid-19 pandemic to the public. UKRI and NIHR also contribute, on behalf of the Government, to the funding of the Science Media Centre which is an independent organisation dedicated to providing accurate and evidence-based information about science and engineering to the public through the news media. Nature of the scientific advice to Government