Nicholas Weller is an assistant research professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society (SFIS) at Arizona State University (ASU). He promotes engagement among scientists, public audiences, policy makers, and cultural organizations in service of creating a just, free, and sustainable future. He studies the use of deliberative public forums to shape science and policy on uncertain, contested, and technical topics. Currently, he works with ASU’s Center for Innovation in Informal STEM Learning to help professionals at museums and other cultural organizations develop sustainability-related programs. He also works with ASU’s Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes to better link science with public values.
The next administration should establish a Participatory Technology Assessment unit to ensure federal S&T decisions benefit society.
The federal government should broaden institutional capacity to collect and integrate evidence on public values into policy and decision making.