CHE Director, Lisa Cooper, Co-Chairs PCAST Report on Harnessing Social and Behavioral Science Insights to Improve the Lives of Americans
On January 15, 2025, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a report titled “Harnessing Social and Behavioral Science Insights to Enhance Policymaking and Improve the Lives of the American People.” This report underscores the critical role that social and behavioral sciences (SBS) can and should play in shaping effective public policies. It also offers several recommendations to integrate these disciplines more thoroughly into government agency decision-making and policymaking processes.
First, it suggests optimizing the presence of SBS experts and the use of SBS methodologies and tools within federal agencies to support an evidence-based policymaking process—through the stages of development, implementation, and evaluation. Second, the report advocates expanding secure access to federal datasets across agencies and among social scientists inside and outside of government, ensuring appropriate protections and safeguards are in place. Third, it recommends that agencies review and adjust their funding priorities, models, budgets, and instruments to better support the evolving SBS research ecosystem and incentivize. Finally, the report encourages facilitating partnerships between private industry, federal agencies, academic institutions, and not-for-profit foundations to leverage SBS insights for greater policy impact on societal challenges.
By weaving SBS throughout agency and policymaking frameworks in every aspect mentioned in the report, agencies can establish practices that allow for effective programs and policies while potentially lowering costs and mitigating harm. Additionally, by evaluating and reflecting on these policies, all levels of government can continue to learn—building relationships while establishing the evidence base that helps us understand the world around us and leveraging opportunities to meet the needs of the American people and work towards a more perfect union.
Center for Health Equity Director Lisa Cooper, MD, MPH, co-led the report’s working group with Jennifer A. Richeson, PhD, a professor and social psychologist at Yale, to bring the report to fruition. The expertise provided by Dr. Cooper, Dr. Richeson and the working group was instrumental in identifying barriers to the effective integration of social and behavioral sciences in policymaking and in formulating strategies to overcome them. Appointed to PCAST by President Biden in September 2021, Dr. Cooper has been a vocal advocate for leveraging scientific research to promote health equity and improve public health outcomes. She concluded her PCAST appointment in January 2025, leaving an indelible mark through the reports to which she contributed. Throughout her time on PCAST, she was a steadfast champion for rigorous person-centered and community-engaged scientific approaches, ensuring that Americans of all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds are engaged in and benefit from the creation and the rewards of science and technology. Congratulations, Dr. Cooper!
Read the full report and to see all the PCAST reports containing recommendations made to President Joseph R. Biden during his tenure: PCAST reports 2021-2025