A Call to Serve the Political Arena Need Not Be Off-Limits to Scientists

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Former climate scientist Jess Spear (third from left), now an organizer for the activist group Socialist Alternative, campaigns on the streets of Seattle in 2014.

ACTIVISM A call to serve The political arena need not be off-limits to scientists.

BY CHRIS WOOLSTON startup near Boston, Massachusetts, says that an unpopular stand could cause friction. But his outspoken politics have cost him at least there are also benefits: politics can provide s if full-time research weren’t time- one close professional collaboration — and another avenue for networking and outreach. consuming and challenging enough, maybe more — but that hasn’t quietened him. And, ideally, scientists will be able to give nanophysicist Michael Stopa embraced He still talks politics on the Harvard Lunch governments the kind of input needed to pro- Aa second occupation while at the bench: Club weekly podcast. In each session he takes duce informed policy. Political involvement politics. He served as a delegate for US presi- part in, he discusses his conservative views, can also create a sense of real-world accom- dent-elect Donald Trump at this year’s Republi- including his belief that illegal immigration plishment that is sometimes hard to find in the can National Convention. Before that, while he threatens the United States. lab. “Nothing’s more rewarding than combin- was a senior scientist at Harvard University in The acrimonious US presidential election ing the two passions,” says David Mazzocchi- Cambridge, Massachusetts, he blew his cover as is over, but politics are forever, and Stopa Jones, a neuroscientist at Keele University, UK, a semi-secret conservative by running unsuc- isn’t the only scientist joining the fray. Many and a member of the local Labour Party. cessfully as a Republican for the US Congress researchers take public political stands on Despite the opportunities, few scientists in 2010 and again in 2013. “My face was on the Twitter and elsewhere, and some are engaging have reached high office in government. front page of the Harvard Crimson,” he says with political parties or running for office (see Frauke Petry, chairwoman of the right-wing of the university’s student newspaper. “At that ‘Join the party’). Politically active scientists can Alternative for Germany Party, has a chemis- point, I was exposed.” struggle to find the time and energy to bridge try PhD, as does chancellor Angela Merkel. Of Stopa, who now works at a technology both worlds, and there’s always the risk that 535 members of the US House and Senate,

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“I know for a fact that they’ve received leaf- JOIN THE PARTY lets with my face on them.” And his dual roles occasionally collide in awkward ways. “Col- Getting political leagues will tell me, ‘My bin didn’t get collected last week,’” he adds, by way of example. Want to get involved in politics? Here’s how science-related. If you’re passionate So compelling is political work for some to take the plunge. about an increase in the minimum wage scientists that they turn it into a full-time pro- ●● Step forward. Scientists willing to or a new tax, then making phone calls or fession. Stacey Danckert, who has a PhD in volunteer their time and talent are always writing letters could be a rewarding political cognitive neuroscience from the University in demand. “If you go to any party office introduction. of Waterloo, Canada, declined a prestigious anywhere in the world and say that you ●● Get in the race. Win or lose, campaigning two-year grant from the Alzheimer Society of really want to help out, they aren’t going is a proven way to spread your message. Canada in 2013 because she found it tough to to say no,” says David Mazzocchi-Jones, Just be ready for the verdict. “You have to balance research, politics and family commit- a neurologist at Keele University, UK, who have a thick skin,” Mazzocchi-Jones says. ments. “I decided to follow my passion for the is active in the UK Labour Party. “Or call “Scientists are used to rejection, but getting environment,” she says. up a local politician and offer to help. No rejected by 40,000 people is different.” She left the lab and is now policy coordinator politician will turn you away.” ●● Join an activist group — but only if you’re for the Green Party of Ontario and a twice- ●● Find your issue. Jess Spear, a former ready to be a team member. “It’s important unsuccessful Green Party candidate for the climate scientist who is now an organizer for that educated people come to activism with Provincial Parliament of Ontario. In her view, activist group Socialist Alternative in Seattle, humility,” Spear says. “You are there to build it’s almost impossible for a scientist to run for Washington, recommends campaigning with others, not teach them, and you are not political office while staying in the lab. “It’s for a local issue even if it’s not specifically an expert in the political arena.” C.W. important to get your name out, and you can’t do that without spending a lot of time,” she says. “The two pursuits require endless dedication.” just two congressmen — a physicist and an informed, even if only through a quick e-mail Similarly, Jess Spear, a former climate sci- engineer — have PhDs in the hard sciences. or a chat with a local representative. “We need entist who worked at the Burke Museum of The UK-based Campaign for Science and to engage more with politicians,” Mazzocchi- Natural History and Culture in Seattle, Wash- Engineering counts 90 Members of Parlia- Jones says. “It’s not going to get us anywhere ington, left research to join Socialist Alterna- ment who have at least some background or unless we talk to them directly.” He says that tive, a socialist activist group, in 2011. After interest in the sciences, engineering or medi- his interest in politics was rekindled in 2014 running unsuccessfully for the Washington cine, including Thérèse Coffey, who has a PhD when he helped to organize the UK Physiologi- state House of Representatives in 2014, she is in chemistry. That’s down from 103 science- cal Society’s Engaging with Parliamentarians now a full-time organizer for the group. “The minded MPs in the previous parliament. outreach programme, where he and other sci- more I got involved in climate science,” she “Scientists are very under-represented in poli- entists paired up with politicians to exchange says, “the more I became aware that we don’t tics in the UK,” Mazzocchi-Jones says. “Twenty ideas. He says that both sides must find ways just need more data. We need political will.” years ago, there were quite a few more.” to identify common ground. “Scientists have to Schweitzer believes that scientists who can Researchers who manage to break into the step forward and be recognized,” he says, “and handle university politics have the mettle to political world could have a huge impact on politicians have to listen”. excel at local, regional and national politics. policy, says Jeff Schweitzer, a former marine Politics can be a sticky subject, however, espe- “The skills are very transferable,” he says. “You biologist who worked as a science-policy ana- cially when someone is out of step with their have to show that you can get along with peo- lyst for the US Clinton administration in the colleagues. Stopa says ple, and you have to build networks.” 1990s. “The biggest thing that a scientist brings “We need to he felt some tension Perhaps most importantly, scientists tend is a method of thinking,” he says. “They have a engage more at Harvard, and not to have a track record of working with large vocabulary that non-scientists might not have.” with politicians. just with the friend bureaucracies. “You need to be able to manipu- Scientists in government can help to bridge the It’s not going to and collaborator who late the system to your will to get things done,” gap between policymakers and the researchers get us anywhere severed ties with him. he says. “If you tend to get frustrated and just who study, in great detail, how the real world When Stopa’s con- throw up your hands, politics probably isn’t actually works, he adds. unless we talk to tract wasn’t renewed, for y ou .” Mazzocchi-Jones, a Labour councillor for them directly.” he was eager to move Before jumping into politics, Schweitzer Newcastle-under-Lyme, believes that his sci- on. “It’s hard to be sur- briefly ran his own lab at the University of ence background has helped him to handle the rounded by people with different ideologies.” California, Irvine, an experience that he says issues that matter to his constituents. “When Stopa doesn’t regret publicly announcing his was invaluable in his second career. “In order we’re deciding on a new recycling system, I can conservatism, but he understands why some to have credibility in Washington DC, you have say, ‘Show me the numbers,’” he says. conservatives prefer to keep quiet. “There’s an to have had at least a short career as a lab scien- Governments are increasingly facing critical ongoing debate about whether or not to come tist,” he says. “I wasn’t in the lab very long, but issues such as climate change and fracking out of the closet,” he says. “You have to make in their view I was a real scientist.” (hydraulic fracturing) that call for scientific that decision for yourself. If you think it might Mazzocchi-Jones manages, for the most wisdom, says David Dunbar, a bioinformati- negatively affect your career, you might be part, to keep his work separate from his ideol- cian at the University of Edinburgh, UK, who better off not saying these things.” ogy. He says that he has a student who is an is active with the Scottish National Party. “The Schweitzer sees political activism as a right. outspoken supporter of the UK Independence scientists you see in the UK Parliament seem to No one in science should be afraid to put their Party, a right-wing, anti-immigration party. “I be thinking in an evidence-based way, and that’s politics on display, he says. “If that’s an obsta- find his politics abhorrent,” Mazzocchi-Jones a positive,” he says. “The party line isn’t always cle,” he adds, “you’re not at the right institution.” says. “But in the end, science unites us.” ■ evidence-based. And neither is public opinion.” Sometimes, political anonymity isn’t much Scientists who aren’t themselves politically of an option. “A lot of my colleagues and stu- Chris Woolston is a freelance writer in active can still do their bit to keep politicians dents live in my ward,” says Mazzocchi-Jones. Billings, Montana.