Artykuł EU needs 'brutal' science advice

to follow - podążać (za), iść w ślad, śledzić
step up - włożyć w coś więcej wysiłku, zwiększyć, podnosić (poziom)
Professor John Beddington said that Europe should follow the US president's lead and step up its scientific agenda.

line-up - program, plan
Compared with the new Washington line-up, European science advice looks very deficient

plethora - mnóstwo
world-renowned - światowej sławy, renomy
Working with him will be a plethora of world-renowned scientists, including two Nobel Prize winners.

scrutinise - szczegółowo badać, oceniać krytycznie
Their job is to be an independent - and sometimes irritating voice - for ministers, scrutinising policy and, if they feel it is unworkable, saying so.