Virtual Meeting: President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

The next virtual meeting of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology will include the likely approval of a report, titled “Harnessing Social and Behavioral Science Insights to Enhance Policymaking and Improve the Lives of the American People,” and submitting it to the United States president.

PCAST, as the council is known, is an advisory group of the United States’ leading scientists and engineers, appointed by the president to augment the science and technology advice available to them from the White House, cabinet departments, and other federal agencies. The council is currently co-chaired by chemist Frances Arnold, geophysicist Maria Zuber, and and current head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Arati Prabhakaer. Incoming president Donald Trump has said PayPal cofounder David sacks will head PCAST when Trump takes office.

The first two hours of the four-hour meeting are scheduled to revolve around the social science report. An afternoon session will address a letter to be sent to the president on “Future Opportunities for Science and Technology to Impact the Nation.”