T
hese are dark times for science and public
policy in the United States. In June, it was re-
vealed that the White House suppressed the
congressional testimony of a State Department
scientist on the implications of climate change
for national security—just the latest example
of evidence undercut by ideology. Yet, despite
this gloomy backdrop, there are glimmers of scien-
tific evidence used to improve policy and practice.
In July, a bipartisan group formed the Congressional
What Works Caucus to encourage federal investments
in evidence-based programs and policies. Since Janu-
ary, the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking
Act has pushed federal agencies to develop learning
agendas and appoint chief data officers
to make better use of government data.
What will it take to keep the light of evi-
dence burning and ensure that the best
science informs important decisions of
our time?
The current administration has taken
steps to undermine the integrity of fed-
eral statistics agencies, eliminate or mar-
ginalize science units in federal agencies,
slim down or drop expert advisory
boards, remove scientific information
from federal websites, and ban agency
employees from using the term “scien-
tific evidence” in budget requests. In
June, President Trump directed federal
agencies to disband at least one-third
of their expert advisory committees by 30 September.
Nevertheless, there are signs that data, evidence,
and rigorous evaluation persist. In June, the nonprofit
Bipartisan Policy Center published Evidence Works, a
compendium of 20 cases of evidence use at the federal,
state, and local levels in the United States, with many
reflecting action since 2017. One case is the Family First
Prevention Services Act of 2018. Guided by years of re-
search, this federal law has created funding opportu-
nities to encourage states to provide services to meet
families’ mental health, substance use, and parenting
needs to help keep children at home instead of sending
them to foster care. Ultimately, Family First will provide
better lives for thousands of children and families.
State and local leaders are also seeking to use evi-
dence, often in collaboration with researchers. By in-
vesting in research-informed programs, for example,the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has made
progress on early childhood education, family and youth
supports, substance abuse prevention, and education
and career pathways. Likewise, the National Network
of Education Research-Practice Partnerships is fortify-
ing the capacity of state education agencies and school
districts to collaborate with researchers to identify ways
to improve academic and socio-emotional outcomes for
students. Findings from such collaborations are often
consequential in policy and practice because the ques-
tions examined derive from the needs of the local dis-
tricts and state agencies involved. In one well-known
example, high school graduation rates in Chicago in-
creased by more than a third after the district imple-
mented an early warning system (to
identify students at risk of dropping out)
informed by findings from a research–
practice partnership between district of-
ficials and university researchers.
So how can research, science, and evi-
dence remain integral to public policy?
Public and private funders must redou-
ble their commitments to support scien-
tific inquiry, as in 2018 when Congress
increased the budgets of several science
agencies after the administration had
proposed cuts. Philanthropy must also
fund evidence-based solutions and the
science behind them. The Community
Foundation Opportunity Network, for
instance, which unites local philan-
thropies committed to equity, is mobilizing leaders to
adopt evidence-based approaches to narrow opportu-
nity gaps for young people in their communities. More
researchers should collaborate with policy-makers to
develop research agendas, to increase the chances that
research findings will be used. One example of the
promise of such partnerships comes from the United
Kingdom, where government-funded Applied Re-
search Collaborations have helped narrow the divide
between research production and the use of research
evidence in health care policy and practice.
It’s clear that contributions from government, phi-
lanthropy, and research organizations are keeping evi-
dence aglow, even in dark times. Let’s make sure that
such efforts continue to light the path ahead.–Adam GamoranEvidence lights the way
Adam Gamoran
is president of the
William T. Grant
Foundation, New
York, NY, USA.
agamoran@
wtgrantfdn.org10.1126/science.aaz
PHOTO: MONICA FELIX
“What will it
take to...ensure
that the best
science informs
important
decisions of
our time?”
SCIENCE sciencemag.org 30 AUGUST 2019 • VOL 365 ISSUE 6456 843EDITORIAL
Published by AAAS