Public advocates, private advisors: the evolving role of scientists inside the White House

Science underpins nearly every facet of public policy, from improving public health to strengthening the economy, addressing the climate crisis, and advancing global diplomacy. However, the role of science and scientists in government decision-making remains largely opaque to the public, including the scientific community. This presentation will trace the contemporary history of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), an elite federal advisory committee of scientists, engineers, and industry leaders managed by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Drawing on a large-scale corpus of newly digitized archival records and 19 oral history interviews with former PCAST members, we will share findings from an ongoing research project studying the internal operations of OSTP and measuring the policy impact of PCAST. In particular, we will highlight successes, challenges, and lessons learned from PCAST members and OSTP leadership in shaping White House policymaking from the start of the George H.W. Bush administration through the present day.