Byron Hyde is a philosopher of science and public policy specializing in evidence-based policy, trust in institutions, and standards in public life with particular expertise in the Nolan Principles. He has academic appointments at Hokkaido University, the University of Bristol, and Bangor University, a research association with a centre at Durham University, and serves on government advisory bodies and public sector committees within the National Health Service and Ministry of Justice. 

I don't currently supervise Bangor University student theses. Medical students interested in the bioethics "student selected component" that I lead should in the first place contact North Wales Medical School.

I conduct interdisciplinary research into specific ethical and methodological problems affecting the institutions of science, medicine and government. I'm a theorist: my primary methods are philosophic and evidence synthetic; I rarely conduct primary empirical research. My research belongs to the field of "philosophy of science and public policy" which combines history and philosophy of science with social science and political theory. 

In addition to my research, I have a large public service portfolio, including charity trusteeship, school governorship, and membership of committees within the National Health Service and Ministry of Justice. I aim to conduct research that's relevant to these roles, and often share learnings from practice with academic researchers.

Trust in Institutions 

Trust is the mainstay of my academic research and undergirds my work in other areas, including on standards in public life, evidence-based policy, research ethics, and medical ethics. My work is divided between three institutions: science, medicine, and government. Often, these intersect, such as in public health policy which requires public trust in all three. Occasionally, I write about trust in individuals—like the physician-patient relationship—or things—such as vaccine hesitancy—rather than trust in institutions which is the main focus of my scholarship.

I am one of very few theorists working on trust in institutions starting with the evidence. The trust literature is divided between philosophers theorizing about trust in terms of trustworthiness and social scientists investigating the empirical determinants of trust. My work focusses on bridging these lines of inquiry to reach (often surprising and counterintuitive) new conclusions.

Many of my submissions of written evidence to parliamentary select committee inquiries focus on public trust. The rest focus on unearthing implicit value judgements in government strategies and legislation.

Standards in Public Life

I specialize in methodological, ethical, and fiduciary standards in public life. These are the principles responsible for good governance that the public can trust.

Much of my work in this field focusses on the Nolan Principles—the seven principles of public life that all British public servants must uphold: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership. My research in this area closely intersects with my public service, and I often write articles for practitioners—parliamentarians, civil servants, charity trustees—to help them understand and improve standards within their own organizations and professions.

Of the seven principles of public life, my research especially focusses on objectivity, integrity, and openness. These double up as scientific norms and principles of evidence-based policy, connecting to my other areas of specialization. 

Evidence-Based Medicine and Policy

Scientific Methodology and Research Ethics

A lot of my research focusses on conflicts of interest—especially on the contested concept of intellectual conflicts of interest, which are especially prominent among politicians, policymakers, and social scientists, but are wholly unregulated. I'm particularly interested in how ideology can influence scientific and policy outcomes, and how value judgements get disguised as statements of empirical fact.

I sometimes do primary empirical research as a "metascientist" (a scientist of science) investigating the incidence of conflicts of interest across different fields. I also regularly collaborate with academics working in different fields—especially with my wife, who's a nutritionist.

My work on research ethics aims to be policy-relevant. I regularly communicate my findings to my colleagues on the Open University Human Research Ethics Committee and the Health Research Authority Research Ethics Committee of which I'm a member. My research also informs my teaching and supervision of medical students at North Wales Medical School.

Bioethics and Medical Ethics

Kendo and Japanese Studies

Alongside my academic work, I'm a semi-professional kendoka (Japanese fencer). I practice, teach, and compete internationally, and spend several months each year in Japan where I regularly hold academic positions. I've published peer-reviewed research in field-leading academic journals and presented at international academic conferences on kendo. I'm the only foreigner to have ever held a formal university appointment to practice and research kendo.

I also have a longstanding interest in Japanese intellectual history. I've written peer-reviewed book chapters and journal articles about this, as well as articles for lay audiences in outlets like Big Think, Philosophy Now, and Kyoto Journal. My research mostly focusses on the Shotoku Constitution and Prince Shotoku's political philosophy, on which I'm currently writing two monographs.

Parliamentary Submissions

Hyde B. 2026. Student Loans and Taxation of Graduates (SLTG0279). London: House of Commons Treasury Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/165445/html/

Hyde B. 2026. Innovation in the NHS: Personalised Medicine and AI (PMA0011). London: House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/164354/html/

Hyde B. 2026. The Work and Performance of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (WPHS0020). London: House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/162788/html/

Hyde B. 2026. Settlement, Citizenship and Integration (SCI0303). London: House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/161159/html/

Hyde B. 2026. Egg Donation and Freezing (EDF0056). London: House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/161162/html/

Hyde B. 2025. The Seventh Carbon Budget (SCB0025). London: House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/151581/html/

Hyde B. 2025. Future of UK Aid and Development Assistance (UKA0171). London: House of Commons International Development Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/152298/html/

Hyde B. 2025. Propriety, Ethics and the Wider Standards Landscape in the UK (PEW0015). London: House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/147543/html/

Hyde B. 2025. UK Research and Innovation (UKI0007). London: House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/142002/html/

Hyde B. 2025. Electronic Voting (EVO0005). London: House of Commons Procedures Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/140914/html/

Hyde B. 2025. Home-Based Working (HBW0055). London: House of Lords Home-Based Working Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/140912/html/

Hyde B. 2024. Boys’ Attainment and Engagement in Education (BAE0009). London: House of Commons Education Committee. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/130378/html/

I lead a large portfolio of international research collaborations and welcome inquiries from postgraduate students looking to get into publishing or strengthen their research record in bioethics, political theory, or philosophy of science. Furthermore, all Bangor University students can participate in one of the programmes of the Centre for the Review of Academic Books that I direct: https://scholarspaces.wixsite.com/crab

2026

  • E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuConceptual Confusion About “Processed Meat”
    Hyde, B. & Hyde, R. B., 24 Ebr 2026, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Nutrition Reviews. nuag039.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Llythyr › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • CyhoeddwydMinisterial Propriety Won’t Restore Trust in Government
    Hyde, B., 14 Ebr 2026, Yn: International Journal of Public Administration. t. 1-3 3 t.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuPaying athletes can undermine their autonomy
    Hyde, B., 17 Maw 2026, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Sport, Ethics and Philosophy. t. 1-16 16 t.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • CyhoeddwydScience Shouldn't Be Political
    Hyde, B., 18 Chwef 2026, Yn: Journal of Academic Ethics. 24, 52.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • CyhoeddwydWhat’s Wrong with Getting Paid?
    Hyde, B., 14 Ebr 2026, Yn: International Journal of Public Administration. 3 t.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2025

  • E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuHow to Philosophize Like an Academic
    Hyde, B. V. E., 13 Hyd 2025, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Metaphilosophy. 57, 1-2, t. 55-60 6 t.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • CyhoeddwydLying increases trust in science
    Hyde, B., 9 Gorff 2025, Yn: Theory and Science. 54, 6, t. 947-958 12 t.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • CyhoeddwydSurveys of the Scientific Community on the Existence of Extraterrestrial Life
    Vickers, P., Gardiner, E., Gillen, C., Hyde, B., Jeancolas, C., Finnigan, S. M., Nováková, J. N., Strandin, H., Tasdan, U., Taylor, H. & McMahon, S., 14 Ion 2025, Yn: Nature Astronomy. 9, 1, t. 16-18
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid