Biden Elevates Science Advisor to Cabinet Role with Key OSTP Appointments
President Biden announces key appointments to OSTP and PCAST, elevating the Presidential Science Advisor to a Cabinet-level position for the first time in history. The new team focuses on pandemic recovery, climate change, and integrating social sciences into policy.
President Biden demonstrates a strong commitment to science by announcing key appointments to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) before taking office. This swift action fills a leadership vacuum that existed for nearly two years under the previous administration, directly following recommendations from scientific societies like FABBS. In a historic first, Biden elevates the Presidential Science Advisor to a Cabinet-level position.
The newly appointed team tackles critical national priorities, including the COVID-19 pandemic, racial justice, economic recovery, and climate change. Biden also tasks these advisors with positioning the United States as a leader in emerging technologies and future industries. Furthermore, the administration prioritizes increasing engagement with communities traditionally underrepresented in science and reimagining STEM education to ensure the long-term health of the nation's scientific enterprise.
Notably, Biden includes social science experts in these appointments to ensure decision-making accounts for societal impacts on vulnerable communities. A key nomination includes Dr. Eric Lander, a pioneering genomic medicine leader and founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, who serves as OSTP Director and Presidential Science Advisor. Dr. Lander brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served as external Co-Chair of PCAST during the Obama-Biden administration.