Science & Public Policy

Several La Follette School faculty members are widely known for their innovative work connecting social sciences with biological and physical sciences, including Jason Fletcher, Pam Herd, Greg Nemet, and Bobbi Wolfe.

Fletcher is a pioneer in efforts integrating social science and genetics – socio-genomics – which seeks to understand how biological factors make a difference not just in human behavior, but in the efficacy of policies directed to shape that behavior. Herd, meanwhile, is a leader in integrating biological data into social science research as principal investigator of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study.

Fletcher and Dave Weimer also serve as faculty members for the Neuroscience & Public Policy Program, which is based on the belief that sound science and technology policy and law are essential for the well-being of societies. In addition, Wolfe received funding from the Herb Kohl Public Service Research Competition to establish a Wisconsin-based national network linking neuroscience to poverty.

Nemet chairs the Energy Analysis and Policy certificate program and conducts internationally recognized research to inform energy and environmental policy making.