White House Provides Updates on Social and Behavioral Sciences Subcommittee & Upcoming Framework

The White House has released a memo providing updates on the activities of the National Science and Technology Council’s (NSTC) Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Subcommittee, including the development of a whole-of-government framework on the use of SBS research to advance evidence-based policymaking by April 30, 2023. The SBS Subcommittee was recently rechartered by the Biden Administration as part of a “Year of Evidence for Action” after being sidelined during the previous Administration.

The Subcommittee has established interagency working groups on five policy priorities to assist with the development of the SBS framework. These working groups are tasked with applying several cross-cutting questions to identify the role of SBS in strengthening the use of evidence in these policy areas. These priorities include:

• Accessibility of Digital Infrastructure and Services;
• Communicating Hazard Information and Other Types of Uncertainty;
• Decarbonization and Justice;
• Good Jobs; and
• Safely Reducing Criminal Justice System Interactions, Improving Rehabilitation during Incarceration, and Enhancing Re-entry.

More details are available in the White House memo. Comments or suggestions on the framework may be emailed to the SBS Subcommittee at sbs@ostp.eop.gov.