April 2020 

On April 28, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the creation of a Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) to connect social and behavioral science researchers with decision-makers who are leading the response to Covid-19. 

SEAN will respond to the most pressing social, behavioral, and economic questions that are being asked by federal, state, and local officials by working with appropriate experts to quickly provide actionable answers. 

The network will include individual researchers from a broad range of disciplines as well as leading national social and behavioral science institutions. SEAN’s activities will be overseen by an executive committee in coordination with the NASEM’s Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, established earlier this year to provide rapid expert input on urgent questions facing the federal government on the Covid-19 pandemic. Responses to decision-maker requests may range from individual phone calls and presentations to written committee documents. 

NASEM President Marcia McNutt emphasized the importance of “recruiting the full range of scientific expertise from across the social, natural, and biomedical sciences” to address the questions that are being raised by mayors, governors, local representatives, and other leaders. 

"Our communities and our society at large are facing a range of complex issues on multiple fronts due to Covid-19,” said Arthur Lupia, head of NSF’s Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. “These are human-centered issues affecting our daily lives—the education and well-being of our children, the strength of our economy, the health of our loved ones, neighbors, and so many more. Through SEAN, social and behavioral scientists will provide actionable, evidence-driven guidance to our leaders across the U.S. who are working to support our communities and speed their recovery.”