Following from a meeting last month where it formally approved the letter, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (OSTP) has now released a letter to President Biden recommending action to increase public engagement and community collaboration through the process of policy development and implementation.
Noting that while Americans generally have confidence that scientists will act in the public’s best interests, citizens “increasingly want their values and priorities to be integral to policy development and the decisions that affect their lives.”
We must, as a country, create an ecosystem in which scientists collaborate with the public, from the identification of initial questions, to the review and analysis of new findings, to their dissemination and translation into policies.
An inclusive dialogue among scientists, policymakers, and the public so that all can be part of ongoing, productive discussions and community-building will lead to more effective policies regarding our health, our environment, our national security, and our general well-being
The letter makes recommendations to “promote the development of public policies that are informed by scientific understandings and community values through inclusive dialogue among scientists, policymakers, and the public.” In particular, the letter recommends two actions for the White House to take that would catalyze effective and systematic engagement on issues of science and technology:
RECOMMENDATION 1: Issue a clarion call to Federal agencies to make science and technology communication and public engagement a core component of their mission and strategy. An essential pillar of this effort is ensuring that experts in participatory public engagement are included in agency senior-level policy development and decision-making processes.
RECOMMENDATION 2: Establish a new office to support Federal agencies in their continuing efforts to develop and build participatory public engagement and effective science and technology communications. This office should consist of individuals with a range of expertise who can partner with or be deployed to agencies, including assistance in the use of social science-informed techniques for participatory engagement* and cutting-edge digital technologies. The U.S. Digital Service within the Office of Management and Budget and the 18F office within the General Services Administration may be useful models for this proposed office.
*PCAST cites participatory techniques including deliberative polling and citizen juries as examples.
The letter notes that such actions would be consistent with other steps that the Biden-Harris Administration has taken, including around restoring trust in government, advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities, and revitalizing our nation’s commitment to environmental justice for all.
Among the resources cited as examples is the Public Engagement with Science Guide developed by the Museum of Science, Boston.
PCAST is an independent Federal Advisory Committee appointed by the President charged with making recommendations on science, technology, and innovation policy to the President and the White House. Its 28 current members are distinguished individuals from industry, academia, and non-profit organizations with a range of perspectives and expertise.