Episode 15
Innovation Imaginaries and the Politics of Evidence-Based Policymaking ft. David Goldston
March 23, 2021
This month, Jack and Shobita talk about the role of government in both funding and regulating innovation, as well as the politics of vaccine approval as European governments suspended distribution of the AstraZeneca vaccine. And we speak with David Goldston, currently director of MIT's Washington office, who has extensive experience in science and technology policy including on Capitol Hill and at the National Resources Defense Council. He was also a former columnist at Nature.
Study Questions:
1. How does "evidence-based policymaking" work in practice?
2. Is it possible for science and technology policymaking to be apolitical?
3. Why is "evidence-based policymaking" insufficient?4. If scientists are still so trusted in our societies, why is there a perception that there isn't?
Related links:
James Wilsdon (2021, March 16). "Aria is an oldie, but there’s no sign it will be a hit." ResearchProfessional News.
Karen Hao (2021, March 11). "How Facebook got addicted to spreading misinformation." Technology Review.
Shobita Parthasarathy (2021, March 17). "The AstraZeneca Vaccine Crisis in Europe Isn’t About Science at All." Slate.
David Goldston (2009, November 4). "In which we say goodbye." Nature.
David Goldston (2009, August 5). "Improving the Use of Science in Regulatory Policy." Bipartisan Policy Center.