Andrés Casas
Behavioral Public Policy, Peace Science, and Social Change Communications.
Bio
Image Source: University of Pennsylvania
My consultancy, research and teaching focuses on the integration of Brain and Behavioral sciences, using Translational Research and Citizen Science to identify and transform barriers to prosocial change. In my projects I apply Behavioral Science, SBCC, and technological innovations to develop innovative interventions targeting sociopsychological and cultural barriers to prosocial change, positive organizational dynamics, and trust building in weak institutional settings.
I founded and currently lead the Neuropaz initiative in memory of Dr. Emile Bruneau. It brings together experts and allies to exchange ideas to nourish bonds, bridges, links among scientists, practitioners and communities interested in building innovations in peace science glocally.
Since 2010, I have served as the PI for the World Values Survey in Colombia and have collaborated with the V-DEM Project. My work has been developed in Latin America, The United States, Africa, and The Middle East. I focus on the applications of Brain and Behavioral Science to Public Policy, Social Norms Programming, Social and Behavioral Change Communications, Peace Science, and People Analytics.
Image Source: COMFAMA
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Image source: Fundación Prolongar
I am interested in exploring the nature of individual and collective learning, stressing how human beings actually reason, choose and act, in collective complex settings marked by intergroup hostility, economic and social inequality, and weak institutional environments.
Brain & Behavioral sciences offer a fresh and exciting source of ideas to help improve program and policy design, organizational dynamics, and institutional design; placing human plasticity and its contextual and environmental sensitivity at its focus.
I follow the path opened by Mantzavinos, North & Shariq (2004) in which a deeper understanding of social change, its working properties, and its effect on economic and political outcomes should begin from an analysis of cognitive processes. An approach started by Chris Mantzavinos as Cognitive Institutionalism
Research, Teaching
& Training
Casas, 2024
My research and teaching activity has been developed in Latin America, the United States, Africa and the Middle East. I have contributed to innovate applications of brain and behavioral sciences to public policy, organizational dynamics, social norms programming, social and behavioral change communications, and peace science.
My scientific work has been published in journals such as: Nature Human Behavior; Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology; The Journal of International Development; Journal of Peacebuilding and Development; Peace Economics, Peace Science and Public Policy; Trials and Plus One, among others.
Instructor, lecturer and collaborator of different undergraduate, graduate and executive programs: Tecnológico de Monterrey, University of Los Andes, Javeriana University, Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar (Cartagena), Universidad del Rosario, Universidad del Norte (Barranquilla), Universidad del Bosque, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana ( Medellín), Center for Higher Studies of the National Police of Colombia (CESPO). I have collaborated in projects from different research centers: The Behavioral Insights Team, Ideas42, The DPPA Innovation Cell of the United Nations Organization, The Cambridge University Behavioral Insights Team, among others. I have the honor of training teams of several international agencies, HR industry teams and audiences interested in behavioral and brain science applications.
Image Source: Arte Rupestre en Nuevo Tolima, Guaviare
My consultancy applies brain and behavioral sciences to design diagnosis and interventions aimed at transforming socio-psychological and cultural barriers to prosocial change, with emphasis on field experiments for conflict resolution and the improvement of intergroup relations through social and behavioral change communications (SBCC).
I help international agencies, public and private institutions to improve organizational dynamics with the use of: Applied Brain and Behavioral Sciences (BBSci); Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning strategies (MEL); and User-Experience-Design (UX), to help organizations lead and facilitate innovations for transition and change management.
Through my work I have developed The Scissors Framework for territorial behavioral assessments/audits and the F.E.S.S.T.I.N Territorial Intervention framework. I use a collaborative approach known as Translational Research applied to complex territorial dynamics that combines experimental methods, deliberative decision making and community engagement, using arts and entertainment.
My consulting activity has been developed in Latin America, the United States, Africa and the Middle East. I have contributed to innovate applications of brain and behavioral sciences to public policy, organizational dynamics, social norms programming, social and behavioral change communications, and peace science.