This book provides an account of the interactions between political, social, cultural, and economic factors on the one hand, and scientific knowledge production on the other, in two historically significant scientific advisory institutions in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: SAGE and Independent SAGE. COVID-19 provides a rich terrain for exploring relationships between science and politics. But while many texts focus on the social or philosophical dimensions of science-advice, or on the purported mis-use of science by governments or alleged nefarious motives of scientific experts, this book draws on interviews with those involved at the sharp end of science-advice production in the UK to produce characterisations of the ideologies reflected in the groups' thought styles and outputs. The more speculative final chapter seeks to consider what an advisory group committed to producing science for more politically radical purposes might look like. This combination of empirical and theoretical richness makes this an important text for critical scholars in science studies interested in how scientific knowledge helps (re)produce social relations, as well as for radical political activists interested in questions of how to relate to science.

Dr. Colclough completed his PhD in Sociology and Social Policy at Durham University in 2025. In his research, he seeks to combine rigorous, philosophically-informed social scientific analysis with a commitment to radical transformation towards a fairer, more equal society. During his PhD studies, he was involved in a network-building project between Durham University and the University of Johannesburg, which resulted in the creation of the Centre for the Philosophy of Epidemiology, Medicine, and Public Health. He is a founding fellow of this institution and, by virtue of this work, a research associate of the University of Johannesburg.