Candidate Science Posts and Medical Professionals and Agricul- Turalists Collectively Hold 10%

CAREERS STAND UP Nations join together in BLOG Personal stories and careers counsel NATUREJOBS For the latest career marching for facts p.261 blogs.nature.com/naturejobs listings and advice www.naturejobs.com

On 22 April, at least 428 cities in 44 countries will host a March for Science (see page 261).

VIA GETTY High-profile scientists such as Jon Foley, executive director of the California Acad- emy of Sciences in San Francisco, are calling on researchers to forego their long-standing reluctance to engage in political discussions THE BOSTON GLOBE GLOBE THE BOSTON and to stand up for facts. More than 3,000 scientists have now expressed interest in exploring the world of politics — and 150 of them will attend a train- JESSICA RINALDI/ JESSICA ing event this month on the basics of running for office. The event, which will be posted online later as a webinar, is organized by 314 Action, a non-profit political action com- mittee that formed in Washington DC last year to encourage scientists to run for office at state and national levels, and to support them in their endeavours. At least three scientists are intending to announce this month that they will be running for congressional office in 2018. RISKY DECISION Candidates have a lot to consider before mounting a political campaign. It’s a risky endeavour from a financial standpoint, and Scientists rallied in Boston, Massachusetts, to ‘stand up for science’ in the face of presidential actions. high salaries and career flexibility might explain why lawyers have tended to domi- POLITICS nate US congressional positions. But the tide is slowly turning: in 2015, lawyers made up around one-third of the US Congress, down from 80% in 1850. Educators hold 12% of the Candidate science posts and medical professionals and agricul- turalists collectively hold 10%. Scientists have long shied away from poli- President Donald Trump’s rise to power has been prompting tics. Many fear that they will lose their cred- scientists to explore possibilities for political action. ibility if they defend science that has become politicized, observed Harvard University science historian Naomi Oreskes in her plenary BY VIRGINIA GEWIN Yet he was elected — with a margin of just talk at the annual meeting of the American 78 votes — to represent one of the state’s legisla- Association for the Advancement of Science hysicist Andrew Zwicker was the under- tive districts. The first physicist in the history of (AAAS) in February. Foley argues that a ‘war dog in a New Jersey state-assembly race the state’s legislature now straddles two worlds: on science’ is under way, and that scientists in late 2015. But the head of science edu- half-time assemblyman, half-time academic. are the ones best placed to fight this war, by Pcation at the Princeton Plasma Physics Labora- It wasn’t Zwicker’s first election: in 2014, demonstrating how science affects daily life tory took a step familiar to scientists — he used he ran in a primary race for a Democratic and by questioning sceptics’ motivations. data to inform his strategy. congressional seat in New Jersey. He believed But, he cautions, there is a stark difference Zwicker’s campaign team mapped the regis- that policymaking could benefit from more- between engaging in political discourse and tered voters in the district and created a model analytical thinking to combat the increase in becoming a partisan candidate. “If scientists to identify those who would be most likely to the use of ‘alternative facts’ — purposeful con- want to run for office, they had better be pre- respond to his message of ‘evidence-based deci- fusion tactics — along with attacks on science. pared to leave their scientific careers behind,” sion-making’. His team carefully crafted every In the wake of the election of a US president he says. And leaving the bench has clear piece of communication to draw that group to who has questioned whether climate change is knock-on effects for the numerous students the polls to vote for him. Meanwhile, political real and backed the debunked notion that vac- and staff researchers the labs support, so it pundits sneered. “The party insiders ignored cines cause autism, US scientists are increas- helps to prepare for that eventuality. If that’s me; the pollsters said I had no chance,” he says. ingly exploring ways to get politically involved. too big a step, however, there may be more

CAREERS

leeway for balancing political and scientific mentoring graduate students. “For most of careers at the state and local level. us on the tenure track, it is not a very flexible POLITICAL CHECKLIST Even if scientists end up deciding that run- timeline,” she says. The typical model for get- ning for a political position isn’t an option, ting into politics looked like this, she says: do Preparatory questions they can still influence politics by forging rela- good science, become a strong communicator, tionships as trusted advisers to politicians, for get tapped to serve as a US National Science ●●Do I have the right temperament? example, or working for a non-governmental Foundation (NSF) officer. There’s just one ●●Can I take criticism? organization (NGO). problem with that model, she adds: “When ●●Am I good at negotiating? there is an explicitly anti-science administra- ●●Am I willing to ask people for money? PART-TIME BEGINNINGS tion, you won’t get tapped.” ●●Can I connect with the public — Many would-be politicians get their feet wet Morrow points out that entering politics speaking in plain English, without jargon? at the local level — often in part-time posts can open career doors through the expan- ●●Am I comfortable selling myself? such as on a city council or a school board. It’s sion of networks. 314 Action, for example, has ●●Am I ready to be a public person and a way to keep a day job while building up name tens of thousands of scientists in its network, all that comes with that (such as digging recognition in political circles. including Nobel prizewinners. “Scientists will into my past or my family’s past)? V.G. But a national run can be tempting for those form relationships that might further their who want to add their scientific voice to issues career, even if they are not successful in a run of national importance — such as energy or for office,” he says. 314 Action has established sponsored or co-sponsored more than 100 bills public health. Nuclear engineer Brian Johnson more than 50 campus chapters and 25 state in his first year, but fundraising is different and contacted 314 Action, keen to have a voice on coordinators to help organize people to advo- needs strong communication skills. Scientists, issues that could be tackled only at the con- cate on science-specific issues. he says, typically stick to facts and figures — a gressional level, such as climate change and net For would-be candidates who are eager to strategy that failed to resonate with constitu- neutrality, the principle that Internet service get their scientific message out, it is crucial to ents early in his political career. providers and governments all regulate online listen, says Foster. “Spend a while listening to Perhaps the biggest difference between data in the same way. people in your district to make sure you under- science and politics, says Lubchenco, is that But he realized that he would probably need stand how they are served well in government,” data and facts aren’t the only factors in politi- to give up his job as head of risk assessment he says, “and how they could be served better.” cal decision-making. The most effective indi- at TerraPower, a nuclear-reactor design com- viduals have relationships across the political pany in Bellevue, Washington, to put together DOUBLE AGENT spectrum, not just with obvious allies. “Devel- a solid candidacy. He asked himself a series of Zwicker is a good example of someone who oping and cultivating those relationships is questions (see ‘Political checklist’) to assess his is successfully managing to combine scien- much of the way politics happens,” she notes. readiness for a campaign and whether it would tific and political careers. He still has a lab, There are, of course, other ways to be be worth the risk to his career, which required although he is rarely there and he stopped politically active that don’t involve running a narrowly defined skill set in a nascent sector. doing straight research in 2003. His half-time for office. Natalia Sanchez, who immigrated Ultimately, he decided against it. split means that he can continue in science to the United States from Colombia when He’s not alone. Leaving behind a scientific education, but it’s not an easy transition. Poli- she was 14, has forged that path herself. She career is a significant concern for many of tics is “the hardest thing” he’s ever done, he arrived in the United States with one goal: to the scientists who have contacted 314 Action. says. “Instead of teaching around 100 people, I become a rocket scientist. Since 2008, she has One of the first questions that people ask is, represent around 155,000 people,” he says. He’s worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in “Can I work full-time and run?”, says executive Pasadena, California, where she has served on director Josh Morrow. The answer, he says, is teams that sent spacecraft to both Mars and no — at least not in election year. Jupiter and has been involved in planetary- And in the run-up to election year, potential science research on Earth. candidates should determine whether selling After last year’s presidential election, she themselves as a scientist would be a net posi- felt that the stakes were high enough to alter tive. “We polled that question carefully,” says her career path. She contemplated running Bill Foster (Democrat, Illinois), the only PhD for a school-board position in California, but physicist in Congress, “because I was worried ended up becoming a field director for Tracy that ‘scientist’ would give an elitist impression Van Houten, a fellow JPL rocket scientist MEL EVANS/AP/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK among the electorate.” who is one of 23 candidates running to repre- That wasn’t the case for him, but it’s a region- sent California’s 34th congressional district. specific question that potential candidates Sanchez helps Van Houten to engage her vot- should explore. “Scientists need to realize that ers and to shape her platform on immigration. science doesn’t dictate all policy and it never “Whether or not I eventually run, I’ve made will,” says Jane Lubchenco, a marine biologist the switch to politics,” she says. “I can help who has served as president of the AAAS and solve problems.” was administrator of the National Oceanic and Scientists can also offer advice to estab- Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under lished politicians. Having led three differ- former president Barack Obama. “But,” she ent scientific societies, Lubchenco knew adds, “we’re all better off if it’s at the table.” more than 30 members of Congress quite Academics such as palaeoecologist Jacque- well and had testified in Congress multiple lyn Gill at the University of Maine in Orono times before she led NOAA. She encourages find that timing is a hurdle. Gill considered scientists to offer their expertise to US repre- running for office, but decided to shelve those sentatives and senators. For example, when pursuits for now. She may reconsider once she Physicist Andrew Zwicker (left) is a New Jersey the gene-editing tool CRISPR–Cas9 became a has progressed beyond processing grants and assemblyman. scientific reality a few years ago, Foster started

CAREERS

receiving urgent requests for meetings from high-profile scientists who wanted Congress to begin grappling with the soci- TURNING POINT etal impacts of human genetic engineer- ing — such as the ethical considerations of designer babies. Marching for facts The best way to offer advice, Foster says, is to set up an in-person meeting in your home state. “You will not be mistaken for Valorie Aquino is one of three lead organizers a random lobbyist, you will be a constitu- of the first annual worldwide March for ent,” he points out. And a home meeting Science on Earth Day, 22 April. Born in the precludes the possibility that any group Philippines, she immigrated to the United

CHARLES PARNALL CHARLES of scientists coming to speak to Congress States as a child and is a PhD candidate at the would be seen as just another special-inter- University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. est group, he adds. Aquino combines archaeological excavations Lubchenco says that scientists can also of ancient Mayan sites with palaeoclimate consider doing sabbaticals in which they reconstructions to understand how humans work with members of Congress, federal and the environment interact over time. She agencies or the White House. And another discusses why it’s time to stand up for science. option is serving on an advisory commit- tee or board of directors for a foundation What spawned the idea of the March or NGO. “Many NGOs are politically very for Science? savvy,” she says, but “they often need help It sprang up after the huge success of the with the science”. Women’s March, held around the world the social-media outlets. We’ve secured support Foster notes day after President Trump’s inauguration. Two from more than 160 scholarly scientific and that scientists “Scientists people took a lead. Jonathan Berman, a post- academic organizations. should consider will form doc in physiology at the University of Texas in serving in the relationships San Antonio, bought the Marchforscience.com How do you think joining this group will affect government’s sci- that might URL. Caroline Weinberg, a science writer your career? entific manage- further their based in New York City, used Twitter to con- Scientists typically don’t stick their necks out ment operations, career, even nect everyone who was talking about this. A politically, for fear of losing research funding such as the NSF, if they are not Facebook group was born and within 12 hours or being branded in a certain way, so I had to US Department successful in a it had 55,000 members. Across all social-media weigh professional risks against my ethical of Energy or in platforms we have over 1.6 million followers. concerns. And that was something I sat oversight of mili- run for office.” on — but not for very long. It’s so important tary research. Key How did you get involved? right now to speak out. budget decisions are often made in private I was one of the volunteers that Caroline and meetings, and it’s essential to have the best Jon brought in to oversee the Facebook public Has the march affected your PhD timeline? scientific expertise there, he says. page. They invited me to be a third organ- My PhD programme might be a little delayed. Scientists may find they already have izer and to help craft our mission, identity, But it’s worth it. It’s crucial to make this cause skills they didn’t realize would be applica- principles and goal statements. I took a lead as successful as it can be. I barely have time to ble to politics. “When I went to NOAA, I on partnering with scientific organizations sleep and eat. But I don’t mind. It’s galvanizing. would joke with students that I was ready and helping to plan events at the march in for the political fray because I already knew collaboration with the Earth Day Network. Will this experience take you on a new how to swim with sharks,” Lubchenco says. career path? They laughed, she adds, but there was truth Some say we should address policy on racial Absolutely. Before this, I was on a path to to that — animal behavioural science is diversity, gender equality or immigration. become an academic at a leading university, about reading body language accurately so Inclusion and diversity in science are core managing my own research projects. Now, I’ve that you can tell whether a shark is going to to our principles. People with diverse back- pivoted 180 degrees. I feel that I can connect pass by or is about to eat you. “The same,” grounds, perspectives and abilities are different communities and improve science- she says, “is true in politics.” ■ integrated at all levels of leadership in the communication efforts. The march itself is March for Science national committees. Dis- an isolated event, but we have a long-term Virginia Gewin is a freelance writer in crimination holds back scientific advances, and vision and are planning post-march actions. Portland, Oregon. we’re committed to talking to our peers about Mainly, we’ll focus on scientific education and these topics, even when it’s uncomfortable. cultivating scientific curiosity and enquiry.

Others fear the march will politicize science. What would make a successful march for you? CORRECTION We’ve heard that the march could harm I hope we see a huge turnout around the world The Turning Point ‘Whale watcher’ (Nature the science community more than help it. and that non-violent marchers prove inspiring. 543, 579; 2017) included several errors: But science is not divorced from politics. So far, more than 470 cities worldwide have the subspecies name should have been Scientists are human beings. We’ve made organized satellite marches. I also want us to indica, not brevicauda; the population sure to include a diversity of people and influence policymaking. This is a marathon off Sri Lanka might not be sizeable; and opinions, and synthesized those opinions and a relay race all in one. ■ Oceanswell’s remit covers all marine into a clear message — specifically, the need research, not just that for whales. to defend scientific integrity and protect the INTERVIEW BY VIRGINIA GEWIN scientific enterprise — on our web page and This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

CORRECTION The Careers Feature ‘Candidate science’ (Nature 544, 259–261; 2017) erroneously referred to Bob Foster (Republican, Illinois). In fact it should have referred to Bill Foster (Democrat, Illinois).