Basil Mahfouz, a Ph.D. candidate at University College London (UCL) in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy, is working in collaboration with Elsevier’s International Centre for the Study of Research (ICSR) to apply data-driven approaches for understanding the dynamics and societal impact of science. His research aims to contribute to the acceleration of scientific progress in addressing global challenges. Additionally, Basil is currently a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University’s Growth Lab, where he investigates the connections between scientific research and economic development.

Basil earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master of Science in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London. He co-founded SynSapien, a platform that leverages collective intelligence for accelerating environmental innovation. With over five years of experience as a strategic communications consultant for research organizations across the Middle East, Basil possesses first-hand understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by various stakeholders within the global research ecosystem.

At the Metascience 2023 Conference, Basil will present his latest research on the use of scholarly evidence in shaping education policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.