All eyes are on Sir Mark Walport, the new supremo of UK science

Now we know the identity of the chief executive of UK Research and Innovation, the science community will be anxiously watching his first steps

The establishment of the 6bn umbrella organisation for UK science funding, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has provoked debate across the research community since it was first mooted. Brainchild of a review by Sir Paul Nurse, UKRI will create what is in effect a new 'super' research council, sitting above the seven existing councils, and rolling in Innovate UK and Research England (the research arm of the Higher Education Funding Council for England).

The vision behind UKRI has not found favour in all quarters of British science. Martin Rees, former president of the Royal Society, has been particularly vocal in his opposition to UKRI, fearing the disruption it will bring, at exactly the same time as Brexit is generating wider uncertainties for research funding. Others fear a creeping bureaucratisation and loss of autonomy across the existing funding bodies, with their individual chief executives ceding status and influence to their new UKRI boss.