Public advocates, private advisors: the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
US national expert advisory bodies related to science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy have a wide range of missions, governing structures, operational practices, cultures, and impact on federal policymaking. This paper offers an analytical framework for assessing the autonomy, function, and...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frma.2024.1455510/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841543433339011072 |
|---|---|
| author | Kenneth M. Evans Kenneth M. Evans Kirstin R. W. Matthews |
| author_facet | Kenneth M. Evans Kenneth M. Evans Kirstin R. W. Matthews |
| author_sort | Kenneth M. Evans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | US national expert advisory bodies related to science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy have a wide range of missions, governing structures, operational practices, cultures, and impact on federal policymaking. This paper offers an analytical framework for assessing the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a federal advisory committee consisting of 30 elite scientists, engineers, and industry leaders appointed by and advising the president. We demonstrate that PCAST carries both a strong instrumental advisory role, providing substantive advice to White House STI policy development, and a significant symbolic advisory role, offering visible public support to presidential decisions and initiatives related to STI. However, we find that the council's engagement with either or both roles has shifted depending on its available resources, the policy agenda of the administration it serves, the level of presidential attention, and the priorities of council leadership. The paper concludes with recommendations to guide future PCASTs in fulfilling their mission and appropriately influencing US national STI policy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f0d0b817453a4f2d86ed81b54cfaa41b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2504-0537 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics |
| spelling | doaj-art-f0d0b817453a4f2d86ed81b54cfaa41b2025-01-13T12:44:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics2504-05372024-12-01910.3389/frma.2024.14555101455510Public advocates, private advisors: the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and TechnologyKenneth M. Evans0Kenneth M. Evans1Kirstin R. W. Matthews2Science and Technology Policy Program, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, United StatesRice Innovation, Rice University, Houston, TX, United StatesScience and Technology Policy Program, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, United StatesUS national expert advisory bodies related to science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy have a wide range of missions, governing structures, operational practices, cultures, and impact on federal policymaking. This paper offers an analytical framework for assessing the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a federal advisory committee consisting of 30 elite scientists, engineers, and industry leaders appointed by and advising the president. We demonstrate that PCAST carries both a strong instrumental advisory role, providing substantive advice to White House STI policy development, and a significant symbolic advisory role, offering visible public support to presidential decisions and initiatives related to STI. However, we find that the council's engagement with either or both roles has shifted depending on its available resources, the policy agenda of the administration it serves, the level of presidential attention, and the priorities of council leadership. The paper concludes with recommendations to guide future PCASTs in fulfilling their mission and appropriately influencing US national STI policy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frma.2024.1455510/fullexpertisescience-policy nexusadvisory committeespublic policymakingnegotiation |
| spellingShingle | Kenneth M. Evans Kenneth M. Evans Kirstin R. W. Matthews Public advocates, private advisors: the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics expertise science-policy nexus advisory committees public policymaking negotiation |
| title | Public advocates, private advisors: the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology |
| title_full | Public advocates, private advisors: the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology |
| title_fullStr | Public advocates, private advisors: the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public advocates, private advisors: the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology |
| title_short | Public advocates, private advisors: the autonomy, function, and influence of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology |
| title_sort | public advocates private advisors the autonomy function and influence of the president s council of advisors on science and technology |
| topic | expertise science-policy nexus advisory committees public policymaking negotiation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frma.2024.1455510/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kennethmevans publicadvocatesprivateadvisorstheautonomyfunctionandinfluenceofthepresidentscouncilofadvisorsonscienceandtechnology AT kennethmevans publicadvocatesprivateadvisorstheautonomyfunctionandinfluenceofthepresidentscouncilofadvisorsonscienceandtechnology AT kirstinrwmatthews publicadvocatesprivateadvisorstheautonomyfunctionandinfluenceofthepresidentscouncilofadvisorsonscienceandtechnology |