Biography

Charlotte Stanton designs experiments that help policy makers make smarter decisions about their programs, policies, and budgets. A challenge almost any policy maker has is how to most effectively invest their limited resources. In the case of environmental policy makers, they need to decide, as an example, whether to subsidize (i.e. encourage) good behavior or tax (i.e. penalize) bad behavior? Which decision will deliver the biggest bang for their buck: the biggest environmental result at the lowest cost? The best way to answer these questions is through rigorous experiments, like the randomized controlled trials medical scientists use to determine which drugs most effectively cure disease. Charlotte is a social scientist who uses experiments to determine which policies most effectively improve public well-being and the environment.

Just like effective policy making relies on good research, professional success relies on good communication. At Stanford, Charlotte teaches a course that helps entrepreneurs and engineers persuasively communicate their ideas to win grants, cultivate collaborations, and influence policy makers. What makes communication persuasive? The ability of the communicator to create value for their audience.