New research by Team Scientist Lyle Ungar and collaborators asks: can a highly supportive AI chatbot reduce loneliness better than a human stranger? Over 2 weeks, chatting with a human peer significantly reduced loneliness, while chatting with the AI did not. Read more: bit.ly/40ZtJOz

New research by Team Scientist Sandra Matz finds that female governors who emphasized action over caution in COVID health messaging were more effective at increasing social distancing compliance, but received lower approval ratings. Read the full article to learn why: bit.ly/4dFxSP5

A megastudy in @pnasnexus.org by Team Scientists @madalina.bsky.social, @robbwiller.bsky.social, and collaborators tested interventions to increase climate advocacy. doi.org/10.1093/pnas...

We were grateful to co-host University of Chicago Professor John List @johnlist.bsky.social for a fascinating presentation on field experiments as evidence in the courtroom.

TODAY: Join BCFG for a special seminar by UChicago economist John List. 📅 Mon, March 16 | 12PM 📍 Huntsman Hall, 8th Floor He will discuss how field experiments are shaping high-stakes legal decisions, drawing on his experience as an expert witness.

Congratulations to Team Scientists @tomcostello.bsky.social and @dgrand.bsky.social and co-author on receiving the AAAS Newcomb-Cleveland Prize for an outstanding paper published in @science.org. www.aaas.org/news/aaas-an...

Next Monday: UChicago economist John List joins us to discuss how field experiments are shaping high-stakes legal decisions, drawing on his experience as an expert witness. 📅 Mon, March 16 | 12PM 📍 Huntsman Hall, 8th Floor

Team scientist podcast roundup: Greg Walton on @hiddenbrain.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4rQeClS @zekeemanuel.bsky.social on @freakonomics.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4tLu0Ss Leslie John on @hiddenbrain.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4qD5U9t

Learn more about Neil Lewis Jr., a Professor of Communication, Medicine, and Public Policy at Cornell and Team Scientist whose work explores the ways social interventions and policies shape motivational processes, behavior, and equitable outcomes. Visit his website: https://neillewisjr.com/

🚨New Book Alert: Revealing by Team Scientist Leslie John🚨 Leslie John examines how sharing more about yourself can deepen relationships and improve well-being. https://bit.ly/4aslfDK

Does one size fit all for behavioral interventions? Read about BCFG’s new research in our February newsletter: bcfg.substack.com/p/does-one-s...

‼️Event Alert‼️ Join us for a special seminar by UChicago economist John List. 📅 Mon, March 16 | 12PM 📍 Huntsman Hall, 8th Floor He will discuss how field experiments are shaping high-stakes legal decisions, drawing on his experience as an expert witness.

Post-Doctoral opportunity in Team Scientist @susanathey.bsky.social's lab at Stanford: The Golub Capital Social Impact Lab is hiring for two AI-focused postdoc positions—one on applied AI in education & workforce, the other on AI methods for causal inference. www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-rese...

"Effective communication requires that the person you’re communicating to leaves not thinking that *you’re* smart; you want them to leave thinking that *they* are smart and that you are trustworthy." - Emily Oster @bcfginitiative.bsky.social chibe.upenn.edu/blog/dr-emil...

In a @hbr.org article, Co-Director @angeladuckworth.bsky.social, Team Scientist Lyle Ungar, and collaborators ask: How does Gen Z use AI, and what are the implications for education and the workplace? hbr.org/2026/01/how-...

Missed our keynote conversation with Emily Oster? The Q&A, co-hosted by @katymilkman.bsky.social and @alison-buttenheim.bsky.social, explored best practices for communicating about science. Watch the recording: youtu.be/owqZ6BCBAr4

🚨New Book Alert: Eat Your Ice Cream by Team Scientist @zekeemanuel.bsky.social🚨 Ezekiel Emanuel highlights the behaviors that matter most for health and longevity, while debunking trends that aren’t supported by evidence. bookshop.org/p/books/eat-...

Today at 12pm ET: Emily Oster talks with @katymilkman.bsky.social and @alison-buttenheim.bsky.social on best practices for communicating science. Register to join the conversation: upenn.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

This Wednesday 1/28 @ 12pm ET: Join @katymilkman.bsky.social and @alison-buttenheim.bsky.social for a virtual keynote Q&A with Emily Oster. Register: bit.ly/4qqmF8l

Behind the Scenes is an online seminar series on how research papers are made, co-organized by Team Scientist Séverine Toussaert. The next speakers are Nihar Shah (peer review, Feb 4) and Andrew Gelman (causal inference, Feb 24). Join their mailing list: forms.office.com/e/XDDyCvs8G6

“We often do things in the moment that we later regret. They can be big or small. Economists assume we don’t have this problem, but we do,” — @rthaler.bsky.social with @aleximas.bsky.social at BCFG’s October event. Read the feature: knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/nobe...

How can researchers, policymakers, and clinicians best share scientific evidence? Join us next Wednesday 1/28 @ 12 PM ET for a virtual Q&A with Emily Oster, moderated by @katymilkman.bsky.social & Kevin Volpp, on how to communicate behavioral and health science. Register: bit.ly/4qqmF8l

Congratulations to BCFG Team Scientist Hengchen Dai on winning the Early Career Impact Award from the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences! @fabbs.org fabbs.org/about/early-...

Congratulations to Co-Director @angeladuckworth.bsky.social on being named #1 most influential scholar in the field of education by the 2026 @edweek.org RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings! www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

🚨New BCFG paper alert 🚨 One size may not fit all for behavioral interventions. Led by @ilanabrody.bsky.social, our research shows that people’s past behavior helps predict which interventions are most effective at changing current behavior. Read more: bit.ly/4pCsa2Q

BCFG’s annual report is available now! Check out our latest efforts in advancing positive behavior change at scale: whr.tn/45chIIb

A field experiment by Team Scientist Todd Rogers and collaborators showed that automated text reminders for mandatory court appearances reduced warrants for missed court dates by 20.4% and lowered incarceration stemming from missed hearings by 21.4%. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Read Co-Director @angeladuckworth.bsky.social's @nytimes.com op-ed on situational agency — the power of shaping one’s environment to support goal achievement, rather than relying solely on willpower. nyti.ms/4pwfY3J

Mark your calendar: BCFG, @katymilkman.bsky.social and @pennchibe.bsky.social will host a virtual keynote talk with Emily Oster on Wed 1/28 at 12 PM ET. Register here: bit.ly/4qqmF8l.

Kick off the new year with insights on how to reach your goals–featuring Co-Director @katymilkman.bsky.social in a recent @washingtonpost.com article by @gretchenxreynolds.bsky.social: wapo.st/4qHDDiL.

Join us Wed 1/28 @ 12PM ET for a virtual keynote Q&A with Emily Oster, hosted by BCFG & @pennchibe.bsky.social. Register here: bit.ly/4qqmF8l

Missed these videos from BCFG? Now is a great time to catch up! 1. @rthaler.bsky.social and @aleximas.bsky.social on the anomalies that changed behavioral economics bit.ly/4auOnfn

“Moms have known it for generations: Nagging works.” —Co-Director @katymilkman.bsky.social discusses BCFG’s latest megastudy with Knowledge at Wharton, showing how simple reminder emails can boost savings deposits. Read the feature: knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/can-...

Co-Directors Katy Milkman and Angela Duckworth sat down to unpack what behavioral science reveals about self-control—why willpower often fails and how shaping one's environment can support better choices. Watch the special video edition of Choiceology here: youtu.be/Yz4YxuoWIp8?...

Co-Director @katymilkman.bsky.social joined November’s TIME100 Talks in NYC as a featured panelist, sharing insights on the science of change. Read more about this event on Culture, Choice & Change in @time.com: https://bit.ly/4otb2Mh

Can simple reminder emails nudge people to save more? BCFG’s research into this question was recently featured in a @kelloggschoolnu.bsky.social article: insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/can-...

We do cutting-edge research on behavior change strategies that help people improve their health, savings, and educational outcomes. This Giving Tuesday, we hope you’ll choose to support our work and amplify our impact: bit.ly/4rtBN6h

Is it better to deliver health facts directly, or to start with a question that sparks curiosity? Read about BCFG’s research on this topic in our December newsletter: https://bit.ly/48qNge3

We were grateful to welcome Stanford Professor Jennifer Eberhardt for a thought-provoking presentation on racial bias. The seminar—co-hosted with @pennchibe.bsky.social, the Quattrone Center, @appc.upenn.edu, & @pennmindcore.bsky.social—drew a large crowd from the Penn community.

We enjoyed a lively conversation between @katymilkman.bsky.social, @corinnelow.com, and Judd Kessler about how behavioral economics can help people get more out of life. We’re glad so many people joined us for this event!

We so enjoyed @rthaler.bsky.social and @aleximas.bsky.social's lively, thought-provoking conversation with @katymilkman.bsky.social & @angeladuckworth.bsky.social about The Winner’s Curse and 30 years of insights from behavioral economics. Recording out now! https://youtu.be/hH8UgQb-x4A

In Philly? Join us for a special seminar TODAY with MacArthur “Genius Grant” winner and APS Lifetime Achievement Awardee Stanford Professor Jennifer Eberhardt. 📅 Wed, Nov 12 | 4:30-6PM 📍 The Agora, Annenberg Public Policy Center @upenn.edu 📩 Register: bit.ly/4qF14dj

The registration link was down for a few hours, but it is back up now and we still have seats available! We would love for you to join us at this event.

WEDNESDAY: MacArthur “Genius Grant” winner and @psychscience.bsky.social Lifetime Achievement Awardee Stanford Professor Jennifer Eberhardt will give a special seminar at Penn. 📅 Wed, Nov 12 | 4:30-6PM 📍 The Agora, Annenberg Public Policy Center 📩 Register: bit.ly/4qF14dj @upenn.edu

‼️Event Alert‼️ Join us in person for a special seminar with MacArthur “Genius Grant” winner and @psychscience.bsky.social Lifetime Achievement Awardee Stanford Professor Jennifer Eberhardt. 📅 Wed, Nov 12 | 4:30-6PM 📍 The Agora, Annenberg Public Policy Center @upenn.edu 📩 Register: bit.ly/4qF14dj

TODAY: Join @katymilkman.bsky.social for a conversation with @upenn.edu Professors Judd Kessler & @corinnelow.com. The first 200 attendees will receive free books! 📅 TODAY, Mon Nov 3 | 4-5PM 📍 Huntsman Hall G06 📩 RSVP: https://bit.ly/4hop005

MONDAY: Join @katymilkman.bsky.social for a conversation with @upenn.edu Professors Judd Kessler & @corinnelow.com about how economics can help you get more out of life. 📅 Mon Nov 3 | 4-5PM 📍 Huntsman Hall G06 📩 RSVP: https://bit.ly/4hop005

Join BCFG, @pennchibe.bsky.social and @katymilkman.bsky.social for this virtual keynote TODAY!

Join BCFG, @pennchibe.bsky.social, and @katymilkman.bsky.social TOMORROW 10/29 at 12 PM ET for MIT Professor Amy Finkelstein’s virtual keynote talk. Register here: https://upenn.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kE9HPGsPRz2J2jcfJcjIEA#/registration

‼️Event Alert‼️Join @katymilkman.bsky.social for a conversation with @upenn.edu Professors Judd Kessler & @corinnelow.com about their new books, Lucky by Design and Having It All. 📅 Mon Nov 3 | 4-5PM 📍 Huntsman Hall G06 📩 RSVP: bit.ly/4hop005