Overview
The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) was created by Executive Order 13226 in September 2001. Under this Executive Order, PCAST "shall advise the President ... on matters involving science and technology policy," and "shall assist the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) in securing private sector involvement in its activities." PCAST is a body comprising the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and up to 45 members from outside the federal government with diverse expertise in science, technology, and the impact of science and technology on the United States, to provide advice on matters of science and technology policy.
PCAST is consulted about and often makes policy recommendations concerning the full range of issues where understandings from the domains of science, technology, and innovation bear potentially on the policy choices before the President. PCAST is administered by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
PCAST conducts workshops and sometimes uses technical advisory groups to gather information for reports to the President on topics such as federal-state cooperation, energy, U.S. competitiveness, nanotechnology, and information technology.
Historical background
PCAST was established through Executive Order 13226.[1] PCAST was originally established by President George H.W. Bush, and was reestablished in the Clinton and George W. Bush Administrations. The executive order indicates that PCAST provides a mechanism for the President “to receive advice from the private sector and academic community on technology, scientific research priorities, and math and science education.”[2] On occasion, PCAST also meets with the President to discuss science and technology policy issues. Several presidential level advisory committees established in previous Administrations have been subsumed under PCAST.
Executive Order 13385[3] charged the PCAST with the responsibilities assigned to the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee under the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991[4] and the Next Generation Internet Research Act of 1998.[5]
References
- ↑ Executive Order 13226, “President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology,” 66 Fed. Reg. 192, Oct. 3, 2001, at 50523-24.[1]
- ↑ For more information on PCAST.[2]
- ↑ “Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees and Amendments to and Revocation of Other Executive Orders,” 70 Fed. Reg. 57989-91, Oct. 4, 2005 (full-text).
- ↑ Pub. L. No. 102-194.
- ↑ Pub. L. No. 105-305.