Governments need to understand science. This is obvious when thinking about defense and security, health, or the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, but it is true for all areas of government activity. Science has something to offer in developing policy for town planning, education, transportation, food, environmental management, the administration of justice, communication systems, the use of artificial intelligence to improve public services, and much more. Seven out of the 10 largest companies in the world are based on science and technology, and there is a correlation between spending on R&D and productivity at a national level. Yet in most democracies, scientists make up a tiny fraction of politicians, and recently there have been questions about the overextension of scientific authority (so-called "scientism") or the inappropriate empowerment of scientists. What, then, is the role of a science adviser to modern government?