In the current climate of disinformation and woolly thinking, stating the obvious in simple and direct language is necessary and essential. Sir Paul Nurse is very good at saying what needs to be said. He once told David Cameron that only a Neanderthal would cut the science budget. This is true, since knowledge, education and research are fundamental to our future. He’s also of course a great scientist. I’m delighted he’s retuning as President of the Royal Society.