The Times think they know the identity of the next Chief Scientific Adviser to the government. And he’s an Imperial man.

John Beddington, they say, will succeed Sir David King at the end of the year.

Beddington is Professor of Applied Population Biology, a discipline in which he mixes environmental sciences with economics. He has sat on many advisory councils both nationally and at European level.

The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills have yet to confirm the appointment.