The Mission of Bescy

The first time I encountered behavioral science, I was struck by its profound ability to shape human decision-making in meaningful ways.

I was volunteering with a program called AmeriCorps, based in the US in North Carolina, helping low-income households trying to build assets—like a home or small business. I heard about some US-based academics designing incentive programs that led to better outcomes for people where every extra dollar was important. I was so fascinated and I wanted to know if there was actually a discipline around this—something you could study, learn, and apply—or if it was just one clever idea.

There weren't yet applied programs to learn behavioral science. Most of the applied practitioners were academics who had left for industry or were seconded to a government agency. I learned what I could cobble together from business, policy, and psychology courses and books in school. Then graduated to find a professional landscape that was interested in behavioral science but didn't have a robust pipeline of employment opportunities in the field. 

It was right around then that I first started volunteering with Bescy. At that time it was still called Action Design Network, and it was about 50 people meeting in bars or corporate conference rooms in Washington, DC to share best practices and build connections. It was there that I really found a professional community that excited me. People who were doing what I wanted to do and were eager to share their knowledge and guidance with me. I jumped in with both feet.

Bescy should always be a place where someone can recognize themselves and their place in the community.

Over the next ten years, Bescy grew to over 20,000 members across several local chapters—with a large footprint in North America. The focus has always been on supporting the community of applied behavioral scientists. There are, of course, the activities and outputs—books, podcasts, events—oriented towards sharing practical advice and helping build the field. But the special part—the part I cherish the most—is the feeling that you can walk into a room or hop on a call and immediately be with a group of people, many of whom you may have never met before, who are interested in the same things as you and are equally excited to have a community.

Last year, at our ten year anniversary, we looked at the field and asked ourselves where Bescy could have the biggest impact. What emerged is a focus on five activities:

  1. Build a global, inclusive community that promotes evidence-based behavioral science and its application across sectors.
  2. Co-create knowledge, case studies, reports, media, and training materials that deepen the understanding of behavioral sciences and their application.
  3. Develop actionable tools, methods, and practices that can be shared openly within the global behavioral science ecosystem.
  4. Enhance the visibility and accessibility of behavioral science practices across diverse networks, including in the Global South.
  5. Support and mentor a new generation of behavioral scientists and practitioners across disciplines.

The biggest opportunity for Bescy was clear: continue the mission but broaden the scope.

Why Bescy Magazine

As the field of behavioral science continues to evolve, so too must the mechanisms for disseminating insights and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. Behavioral science is no longer confined to a few academic institutions and government teams in North America and Western Europe—the way decisions are made and influenced is shaped by distinct cultural, economic, and societal contexts. By connecting practitioners from diverse backgrounds and geographies, Bescy can help ensure that behavioral science serves as a truly global tool for progress. 

Bescy Magazine emerges as a natural next step in this space—a digital magazine focused on amplifying global perspectives, making research and guidance more accessible for practical application, and providing a platform to showcase the important work being done by behavioral scientists across the world.

Historically, many behavioral science publications have naturally gravitated towards research from well-established institutions in North America and Europe, given their longstanding contributions to the field. While these institutions have produced invaluable insights, this focus has sometimes overshadowed the profound and innovative work emerging from other regions. Bescy Magazine seeks to bridge these gaps, highlighting both emerging and established voices, and fostering cross-regional collaborations that transcend traditional academic silos. While these contributions are valuable, they do not encompass the full breadth of behavioral science's impact. Bescy Magazine seeks to bridge these gaps, highlighting both emerging and established voices, and fostering cross-regional collaborations that transcend traditional academic silos.

Shaping the Future of Behavioral Science

Bescy Magazine will offer an intellectual and practical resource for behavioral scientists, policymakers, designers, and other practitioners seeking to harness behavioral insights for meaningful impact. We will feature in-depth explorations of key behavioral principles, translating complex research into accessible and actionable insights. The first few in this "Thinking Through" series are on operational transparency, groupthink, and social proof.

You’ll also find real-world case studies that illuminate the tangible applications of behavioral science across industries, from financial services and healthcare to governance and technology. Bescy Magazine will engage in critical discourse about the evolving role of behavioral science in shaping policy, business strategy, and everyday decision-making. You can find articles on building a global team, practical guidance on experimentation, and an overview of common frameworks and their uses in behavioral projects.

Bescy Magazine serves to reinforce the meaningful conversations, exploration, and sharing of valuable insights that occur in the events our volunteers host around the world. It serves as a connector—bridging researchers and practitioners, policy architects and entrepreneurs, students and seasoned professionals.

As the field expands its influence, Bescy Magazine will work to ensure that it becomes an inclusive and globally relevant discipline. Beyond providing practical tools and guidance, Bescy should always be a place where someone can recognize themselves and their place in the community.