PSE Workshop: Dr. Paul Stern on Social Science and Energy Research

By Amanda Dewey

​Dr. Paul Stern is a senior scholar at the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Stern presented a recent research project titled “How can social science become more influential in energy transitions?” on April 5th. This work explores how social science can influence energy outcomes through social science energy research, or “SSER”. Dr. Stern distinguishes “pure” SSER from “applied” research that directly seeks to influence policy and energy outcomes. Highlighting public perceptions of technology and social consequences of energy policies are just some of the ways that social science can help to speak to energy research. This work is even more important in the current political climate, as the role of science in policy making is uncertain.
 
Dr. Stern argues that social scientists need to identify influential research topics with the potential to significantly affect energy use, while also focusing on problems that allow them to add explanatory value beyond what other disciplines can offer. Dr. Stern discussed the ways that social science has tended to focus on energy issues or behaviors that have limited potential for positive change in energy terms. Specifically seeking targets that have this greater potential can allow social science to have increased real-world influence.
 
This presentation helps us to consider the ways that social science could directly impact energy use and transition beyond “pure” research that reaches limited audiences. Through projects analyzing such topics as household behaviors, social aspects of emerging technologies, and behavioral components of organizational energy use, social science can inform a changing energy landscape. Following the April 22nd March for Science, this project contributes to an emerging discussion about the role of science in policy and social change.