The Department has a Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor David Mackay. In addition, there are three independent committees that advise the Department on scientific and other matters. These are: the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (15 members); the Advisory Committee on Carbon Abatement Technologies (15 members); the Committee on Climate Change (eight members). The Department also receives advice from a number of other bodies. These include: Energy Technology Institute; Carbon Trust; and UK Energy Research Centre.
Currently there are 66 science and engineering posts in the Department.