Intro
Maya Shankar, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist who founded and chaired the White House’s first ever Social and Behavioral Sciences Team, a cross-agency team of experts that used behavioral science research insights to improve and redesign government programs and policies. Working under the Obama Administration, Shankar and her team provided policy guidance to federal agencies, applying behavioral science research insights on decision making to key public policy challenges.1 Under Shankar’s direction, the SBST team’s work has provided a framework for federal agencies to implement evidence based approaches towards solving policy challenges and creating more efficient government programs. In 2016, Shankar served as the first behavioral science advisor to the United Nations, and continues to apply her behavioral science expertise on decision making in her current role as Google’s Global Director of Behavioral Economics.2
Behavioral science has a lot to offer and I think it’s especially important that we account for these insights that scientists have been gleaning over the years to make sure that when we are designing policies and programs, they’re optimised with these insights in mind.
– Maya Shankar
