Professor Will Serve On Obama Council

President Barack Obama announced the appointment of Harvard Professor Daniel P. Schrag to serve on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), in a speech at the National Academy of Sciences earlier this week.

PCAST—which draws its 20-person membership from the private sector and academic community—is charged with advising the President on policy decisions where an understanding of science, technology, research, and innovation are instrumental.

It primarily focuses on issues related to energy, climate change, and healthcare.

Since PCAST was first established in 1990, the majority of advisors have come from industry.

In a break with tradition, the majority of Obama’s appointees have an academic background.

“After [Obama’s] speech it was clear that this president is committed to embracing scientific advice and truly values what science has to offer to informing his agenda,” Schrag said. “We live in a time of huge challenges and navigating through these decisions...we need good information.”

Schrag, whose areas of expertise include climate change and energy issues, is currently a professor of geology in the department of earth and planetary sciences and the director of the Harvard University Center for the Environment.

Noel M. Holbrook ’82, a professor of forestry who serves with Schrag on the Center for the Environment steering committee, said his ability to bring different facets of the University together in his work on the environment would serve him well in Washington.

“I think that the fact that he is able to think beyond science and understand the complexity of the issues and learn from other fields are what you need in a person that will be a sounding board for the president,” Holbrook said.

Schrag will join Harvard affiliates John P. Holdren and Eric Lander, who were appointed co-chairs of the council in December along with Harold Varmus.

Holdren is the former director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Lander is the director of the Broad Institute—a joint venture between MIT and Harvard.