Kenneth Mellinger Evans ^* Kirstin RW Matthews

• Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, United States

US national expert advisory bodies related to science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy have a wide range of missions, governing structures, operational practices, cultures, and impact on federal policymaking. This paper examines the autonomy, function, and influence of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a federal advisory committee consisting of 30 elite scientists, engineers, and industry leaders appointed by and advising the president. Tracing the council’s organization, operations, and policy activities from its creation by President George H.W. Bush through the Biden administration, we discuss the changing nature of PCAST’s advisory role over time. We demonstrate that PCAST carries both a strong instrumental role, providing substantive advice to White House STI policy development, and a significant symbolic role, offering visible public support to presidential decisions and initiatives related to STI. However, we find that each administration’s approach and relative focus on either or both roles have shifted depending on the available resources, policy agenda of the administration, level of presidential attention, and the priorities of council leadership. The paper concludes with recommendations for helping ensure PCAST fulfill its mission and interface effectively with high-level government decision-makers.