Boston Tech Hub Faculty Working Group Brief: How Could Reinstating the Office of Technology Assessment or Other Mechanisms Help Congress Effectively Respond to Emerging Technologies?

The Boston Tech Hub Faculty Working Group, hosted by former Secretary of Defense and Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center Director Ash Carter and Harvard SEAS Dean Frank Doyle, convened its first session of the spring semester on the topic of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) and other mechanisms to help Congress effectively respond to emerging technologies. This session examined Congressional science and technology (S&T) capacity needs and how these needs are shaped by the current, rapidly evolving emerging technology landscape. This session also explored the S&T-relevant resources that currently exist for Congress, and how the past work of OTA and similar efforts might be adopted to strengthen Congressional decision-making today. 

This pre-session briefing document provides background information on the subject; identifies current controversies, debates, and/or outstanding questions about the subject; poses discussion questions; and recommends relevant readings.