The Center for Impact Sciences is pioneering the use of data standardization for social impact. By advancing a uniform language for impact, the Center will empower policymakers and investors to innovate, benchmark, and predict social impact.

Introducing the field of Impact Science

The field of social science has struggled to define its meaning of “science”.  Science is more than just a research methodology; true science is a systematically organized body of knowledge that enables prediction, replication, and generalizability.  

This is the promise of Impact Science. Just as econometrics employs statistics, math and modeling to forecast future economic outcomes, impact science seeks to “harden” social science by using structured data to forecast social outcomes.

The center will explore cutting-edge and disruptive use cases for impact science in the form of new tools, systems and technologies for achieving social impact.  To achieve its mission, the Center for Impact Sciences has four key priorities:

1. Advancing core components research
2. Developing probabilistic decision-making models
3. Standardizing social impact data
4. Advancing the “S” in ESG

Read about the Center for Impact Sciences in the news:

• Institutional Investor: “University of Chicago: There’s no Data to Determine if ESG is Working” 
• Institutional Investor: "ESG Demand Is Hitting Records. But Asset Managers’ Jobs Just Got Harder."
• Wall Street Journal: "The Difficulty of Measuring a Company Social Impact"
• Stanford Social Innovation Review: "Fixing the S in ESG"

Learn more about the Center for Impact Sciences. 

The Center's Launch Event in Washington DC

Contact Us

To get involved or learn more about the Center for Impact Sciences, email Jason Saul.

Executive Director, Center for Impact Sciences

Jason Saul

Jason Saul is one of the world’s leading experts on measuring social impact, advising corporations, federal agencies and philanthropies on how to maximize their impact.
 

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