PCAST Behavioral and Social Science Report

The Biden President’s Council of Advisors of Science and Technology Policy (PCAST) met for the last time on Friday, January 10. FABBS was honored to be in the room when PCAST members Dr. Jennifer Richeson and Dr. Lisa Cooper presented findings and recommendations from their report: Harnessing Social and Behavioral Science Insights to Enhance Policymaking and Improve the Lives of the American People.  

The report builds on the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) Blueprint for the Use of Social and Behavioral Science to Advance Evidence-Based Policymaking, identifying specific examples of how insights from these disciplines have driven policy decisions that led to better outcomes and explaining the breadth and rigor of these disciplines. The authors offered four broad recommendations that included more targeted actions. 

  1. Invest in SBS Expertise 
  1. Leverage Federal Data  
  1. Invest in SBS Research Ecosystem 
  1. Invest in Cross Sector Partnerships 

The presentation was followed by an engaged and inspiring discussion with every member contributing and seeing the connection to their areas of scientific or technological area of expertise. While the new administration has already identified a new Executive Director and will appoint new members, this report remains a valuable resource for our colleagues at federal agencies. FABBS will be working to disseminate the report and advance its recommendations.  

The documentation for the meeting is now available in the Biden archive

View the Federal Register Notice, Meeting Agenda and Written Public Comments

PCAST Social and Behavioral Science Insights Report Presentation: Jennifer Richeson and Lisa Cooper

PCAST, White House