Daily Archives: January 16, 2025

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy provides in-house science advice for the president

Presidents need science advice. From climate change and pandemics to the governance of AI and the country’s nuclear arsenal, science sits at the center of a range of foreign and domestic policy challenges that reach the president’s desk.

Thankfully for the president – and the nation – the Office of Science and Technology Policy, known as OSTP, is just across the White House South Lawn in the Executive Office of the President. Led by the president’s science adviser, OSTP serves as a one-stop shop for everything science and innovation inside the White House.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy is also responsible for coordinating the government’s large, decentralized research and development policy system. With dozens of participating agencies, offices and departments – and 10 with individual R&D budgets of over a billion dollars annually – OSTP works to break down silos across the government and oversees the health of the nation’s vast R&D ecosystem.

As a research scholar studying the U.S. science advisory system, I am a close observer of OSTP and the president’s science agenda. President-elect Donald Trump recently selected Michael Kratsios, the chief technology officer from his previous administration, as his next science adviser and director of OSTP.

Here’s a look back at OSTP’s history, where the science adviser has made a difference, and how the office might be organized inside the Trump White House.

The Cold War origins of the science adviser

Like many good stories about U.S. science policy, OSTP’s begins with Sputnik. Just days after the Soviet Union took a commanding lead in the space race with the launch of Sputnik I and II in 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower upgraded the World War II-era Science Advisory Committee to be the President’s Science Advisory Committee. The one-word change signaled an elevated role of scientists inside the White House.

James Killian, second from left, the first science adviser, confers with committee members Donald Hornig, George Kistiakowsky and Jerome Wiesner.
AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Physics Today Collection

The President’s Science Advisory Committee was hugely influential during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. It helped create NASA. It led the government’s response to Rachel Carson’s investigation of the dangers of widespread pesticide use, “Silent Spring,” which launched the modern environmental movement. And it was the driving force behind the dramatic growth in federal R&D spending in the 1960s.

President John F. Kennedy created the Office of Science and Technology, a predecessor to OSTP, to staff Committee activities and respond to increasing requests from the executive office about how best to fund federal science programs.

The President’s Science Advisory Committee’s influence waned in the late 1960s, burdened by the administrative duties of managing the growing U.S. R&D system and a diminishing role in national security. There were also concerns among White House political advisers that the committee put the interests of the scientific community ahead of the president’s. Some viewed the committee as a “science lobby,” driving public funds to support higher education.

The tensions between science and politics, fueled in part by the Vietnam War, erupted under President Nixon. After several committee members spoke out publicly against several of his flagship defense programs, Nixon abolished both the President’s Science Advisory Committee and the Office of Science and Technology in 1973.

The move provoked Congress to act. With support from President Gerald Ford, it passed the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act in 1976, which created the Office of Science and Technology Policy as an independent agency inside the White House and cemented the role of the science adviser into law. Nearly half a century later, this act remains the nation’s only attempt to establish a comprehensive national science policy.

The act designed the original blueprint for OSTP, much of which remains intact today. OSTP is led by a presidentially nominated, Senate-confirmed director who serves as science adviser, up to four Senate-confirmed associate directors and two policy councils: the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the National Science and Technology Council. These bodies are organized to work in tandem: PCAST advises; NSTC acts.

With an annual operating budget of US$8 billion, OSTP is a tiny agency by U.S. government standards. It employs just two to three dozen full-time employees. Remaining staff serve on detail from elsewhere in the executive branch.

Biden meets with members of his President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology: Paula Hammond, science adviser Arati Prabhakar and council co-chair Maria Zuber.
@POTUS/X

Who has the president’s ear?

The Office of Science and Technology Policy is charged by Congress to “serve as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the president” and coordinate the nearly $200 billion-a-year U.S. federal R&D effort.

The office has been criticized, especially from within the science policy community, as being a minor player inside the White House. It has no real budget authority, and the stature of the science adviser is marked by how often the president takes his or her advice.

However, much of what the science adviser does happens outside public view. One of the position’s most important jobs has no footprint: The science adviser kills bad ideas. The science adviser is often the only voice in the White House fighting to keep science funding from being cut from the president’s annual budget request to Congress.

President Bush hosts his President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology for its inaugural meeting at Camp David in 1990. Science adviser Allan Bromley sits to his right, and chief of staff John Sununu to his left.
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library

Nevertheless, the science adviser’s influence has shown up on many policies, often closely related to the administration’s priorities. President George H.W. Bush’s science adviser, Allan Bromley, developed the country’s first national technology policy, laying the foundations for the U.S. government’s current approach to innovation.

President Bill Clinton’s advisers, John Gibbons and Neal Lane, championed early electric vehicles and nanotechnology.

President George W. Bush’s science adviser, Jack Marburger, spurred the creation of the “science of science policy” as a research discipline, leading to new knowledge about how science works and benefits the public.

Present Obama with science adviser John Holdren, left, and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu in the Oval Office.
National Archives Catalog

John Holdren, President Barack Obama’s science adviser, shifted federal energy and climate policy.

Biden’s scientists, Eric Lander, Alondra Nelson, Arati Prabhakar and Francis Collins, shepherded landmark policies on semiconductors, public access to federally funded research and AI.

Michael Kratsios, Trump’s pick to lead OSTP, has a background in tech.
Henrique Casinhas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Science advice in the Trump White House

Until now, all science advisers have been trained scientists. Prior to serving as U.S. chief technology officer during Trump’s first term, Michael Kratsios had executive-level experience in venture capital and training in political science.

He’s an unconventional pick, but hardly controversial. Even without an advanced science, technology, engineering or math degree, Kratsios’ selection has been publicly very well received by STEM advocacy organizations, a sign of practicality in light of Trump’s erratic first-term record on science and well-documented disregard of scientific consensus.

Titles matter, especially in Washington. If confirmed by the Senate, Kratsios will serve as OSTP director as well as assistant to the president for science and technology, a title that indicates direct access to the president as a senior White House aide. With Silicon Valley’s outsize influence in the Trump transition, Kratsios and OSTP appear empowered to reshape America’s vision for science and innovation.

This story is part of a series of profiles of Cabinet and high-level administration positions.

Specialist communications consultancy appointed to deliver comms for two leading science organisations

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565Visit Shots! nowPerceptive Communicators continues to support clients transforming futures with two significant client wins within Scotland’s burgeoning life science and biotechnology sectors.Perceptive Communicators continues to support clients transforming futures with two significant client wins within Scotland’s burgeoning life science and biotechnology sectors. Perceptive has been appointed by leading biotechnology scale-up Remora as it looks to build its brand and enter new markets with its unique and sustainable biotechnology solution which prevents harmful biofilms. These are a leading cause of infection in humans and animals, as well as damage and degradation to surfaces and materials. The award-winning Remora technology stops biofilm formation at its earliest stages, offering a highly effective solution for all types of biofilm across multiple sectors from textiles to medical devices. Julie Moulsdale – Perceptive CommunicatorsPerceptive has been appointed to deliver strategic communications support, message development, media relations and social media support to build brand awareness across a wide-range of sectors. Dr Richard Hammond, CEO of Remora, said: “As we introduce our technology to new markets and develop our reputation, we have partnered with Perceptive Communicators to help refine our messaging and develop a strategic communications strategy. What drew us to Perceptive was its clear understanding of the biotechnology sector, as well as its well-established communications expertise. We’re on a very exciting growth journey and look forward to the Perceptive team supporting us.” Following a successful initial project, Perceptive was also appointed to develop a comprehensive strategic communications plan and manage the creation of digital content for Kadans Science Partner ahead of the launch of its highly-anticipated Health Innovation Hub (HiH) located beside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow later this year. Kadans Science Partner is the largest provider of science space in Europe and is dedicated to investing in the development of real estate within knowledge-intensive sectors. HiH, a flagship investment within the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID), will offer state-of-the-art lab and office space for commercial businesses focused on advancing and delivering precision medicine technologies. It is being delivered in collaboration with The Living Laboratory, a partnership made up of the University of Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council, dedicated to strengthening Glasgow’s position as a leader in healthcare innovation.CGI of Health and Innovation HubKatie Nelson, Head of Leasing, UK & Ireland for Kadans Science Partner, said: “The Health Innovation Hub is Glasgow’s newest purpose-built life science facility on the doorstep of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and focuses on supporting development of precision medicine solutions. “Perceptive’s expertise and connections in the life science space in Scotland has been incredibly helpful. We’re looking forward to working closely together as we prepare to launch in Autumn.”Julie Moulsdale, Managing Director at Perceptive Communicators, added: “Our purpose is to work with clients who are improving lives and transforming futures, and that’s precisely the case with Kadans Science Partner and Remora. It’s been really exciting to get under the skin of these game changing brands as we work to make a meaningful and commercial impact to both businesses through our strategic communications expertise. It was fantastic to end 2024 on a high with a flurry of new business wins across our specialist sectors and we’re excited for the year ahead.” Glasgow-headquartered communications consultancy Perceptive Communicators supports clients working across science, technology and the built environment who are improving lives and transforming futures every day.Perceptive Communicators was recently named within the Top 50 Inspiring Workplaces 2024 and won Supporting Organisation of the Year at Homes for Scotland 2024, recognising its results driven approach for clients and creation of a people first culture within the organisation. Perceptive’s managing director was also recognised in the Business Women Scotland’s Top 100. Continue Reading

Specialist communications consultancy appointed to deliver comms for two leading science organisations

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565Visit Shots! nowPerceptive Communicators continues to support clients transforming futures with two significant client wins within Scotland’s burgeoning life science and biotechnology sectors.Perceptive Communicators continues to support clients transforming futures with two significant client wins within Scotland’s burgeoning life science and biotechnology sectors. Perceptive has been appointed by leading biotechnology scale-up Remora as it looks to build its brand and enter new markets with its unique and sustainable biotechnology solution which prevents harmful biofilms. These are a leading cause of infection in humans and animals, as well as damage and degradation to surfaces and materials. The award-winning Remora technology stops biofilm formation at its earliest stages, offering a highly effective solution for all types of biofilm across multiple sectors from textiles to medical devices. Julie Moulsdale – Perceptive CommunicatorsPerceptive has been appointed to deliver strategic communications support, message development, media relations and social media support to build brand awareness across a wide-range of sectors. Dr Richard Hammond, CEO of Remora, said: “As we introduce our technology to new markets and develop our reputation, we have partnered with Perceptive Communicators to help refine our messaging and develop a strategic communications strategy. What drew us to Perceptive was its clear understanding of the biotechnology sector, as well as its well-established communications expertise. We’re on a very exciting growth journey and look forward to the Perceptive team supporting us.” Following a successful initial project, Perceptive was also appointed to develop a comprehensive strategic communications plan and manage the creation of digital content for Kadans Science Partner ahead of the launch of its highly-anticipated Health Innovation Hub (HiH) located beside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow later this year. Kadans Science Partner is the largest provider of science space in Europe and is dedicated to investing in the development of real estate within knowledge-intensive sectors. HiH, a flagship investment within the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID), will offer state-of-the-art lab and office space for commercial businesses focused on advancing and delivering precision medicine technologies. It is being delivered in collaboration with The Living Laboratory, a partnership made up of the University of Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council, dedicated to strengthening Glasgow’s position as a leader in healthcare innovation.CGI of Health and Innovation HubKatie Nelson, Head of Leasing, UK & Ireland for Kadans Science Partner, said: “The Health Innovation Hub is Glasgow’s newest purpose-built life science facility on the doorstep of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and focuses on supporting development of precision medicine solutions. “Perceptive’s expertise and connections in the life science space in Scotland has been incredibly helpful. We’re looking forward to working closely together as we prepare to launch in Autumn.”Julie Moulsdale, Managing Director at Perceptive Communicators, added: “Our purpose is to work with clients who are improving lives and transforming futures, and that’s precisely the case with Kadans Science Partner and Remora. It’s been really exciting to get under the skin of these game changing brands as we work to make a meaningful and commercial impact to both businesses through our strategic communications expertise. It was fantastic to end 2024 on a high with a flurry of new business wins across our specialist sectors and we’re excited for the year ahead.” Glasgow-headquartered communications consultancy Perceptive Communicators supports clients working across science, technology and the built environment who are improving lives and transforming futures every day.Perceptive Communicators was recently named within the Top 50 Inspiring Workplaces 2024 and won Supporting Organisation of the Year at Homes for Scotland 2024, recognising its results driven approach for clients and creation of a people first culture within the organisation. Perceptive’s managing director was also recognised in the Business Women Scotland’s Top 100. Continue Reading