Science and technology often develop at paces incommensurate to existing governance structures and policy processes, challenging law- and decision-makers as they seek to understand if and how best to regulate or legislate. To design effective policy, it is essential that stakeholders and policymakers at all levels of government understand the basic elements of evolving science and technologies, their risks and advantages, and how they impact society.
To play a small role in supporting that effort, we’re introducing “Science Notes.” These brief memos describe scientific and technological artifacts, concepts, principles, and research related to policy topics and legislative proposals. They are intended to support policymakers and the public’s understanding of public policy issues by providing them with a non-partisan, high-level explanation of the science and technologies shaping and being shaped by policy.
Science Notes are a natural outgrowth of our New York State Science Policy Fellowship, which connects scientific expertise with policymaking by placing PhDs in science, technology, and engineering into high-level public sector roles in state government. As the pace of technological change accelerates, the Rockefeller Institute is empowering policymakers to make evidence-based decisions about the technologies that transform our lives.
