Science Policymakers Need Metrics to Make Informed Decisions, Subcommittee Hears
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to examine the current state of science and technology policy research. The subcommittee evaluated how this research informs policymaking and the role of the federal government in fostering academic research and education in this emerging interdisciplinary field.
“Science and engineering research and education have driven long-term economic growth and improved the quality of life for all Americans. I view science and innovation policy as critical for maintaining our international competitiveness and creating jobs,” Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL).
The science of science policy includes the development of scientific theories, analytical tools, and rigorous datasets that will assist policymakers in science policy decisions. While most believe that science, technology, and innovation are critical to the competitiveness and prosperity of the United States, it remains difficult to actually measure the economic impact, social benefits, and effectiveness of federal research and development investments.
“As someone who was trained as an engineer and a social scientist, I believe we need data and proper analysis of this data to be able to determine – as best we can – the optimal policy to implement,” said Lipinski.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds the Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP) program which supports research to improve the collection and analysis of data leading to better science metrics for quantifying returns on federal R&D investments. This includes research on the process of innovation and research directed toward the development of models and other statistical tools. Additionally, the program supports workshops, conferences, and symposia to help foster a community of researchers in the SciSIP area.
Members and witnesses also discussed a project known as STAR METRICS (Science and Technology for America’s Reinvestment: Measuring the Effect of Research on Innovation, Competitiveness and Science), on which NSF and the National Institutes of Health are currently collaborating. The purpose of this partnership is to develop a data infrastructure that documents the outcomes of science investments for the public, including the number of jobs created from science funding included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The education of students who want to pursue science and technology policy was also examined. There are more than 25 U.S. universities that offer a graduate degree in the interdisciplinary field of science and technology public policy. These degree programs draw from a number of fields, including economics, sociology, political science, and engineering. Members and witnesses discussed the type of education and training science and technology policy practitioners should receive as well as NSF’s role in fostering the development of such programs at universities.
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