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Published online 21 May 2008 | Nature 453, - (2008) | doi:10.1038/453434a
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Meeting urges scientists into politics
Advice on how to ditch the lab for elected office.
Scientists who think the world would be a better place if more of their sort held public office are being urged to help make the changes they want and offered advice on how to do so.
On 10 May, the non-partisan organization Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA) held a workshop in Washington DC to tell scientists what it takes to run for public office — and how to go about it.
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I have worked as physical scientist since 1960. In my opinion, science and politics is a dangerous mix. Oliver K. Manuel
Scientist politicians are needed Sir, By engaging in facilitating interested scientists to join politics (“Meeting urges scientists into politics� Nature 453, 434, 2008; http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080521/full/453434a.html), Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA) is taking steps in the right direction. Besides election education and training, SEA also helps track the stand of elected officials and candidates on science as well as suggests ways by which people in college and university communities can actively influence the interface between science and politics (http://sharp.sefora.org/). They are all important. Climate change issue is a good example where the masses could clearly see how science and scientists can most meaningfully contribute to society by shaping public policy. SEA’s effort needs encouragement from science and society alike.
Since a genuine scientist looks for the truth, therefore a scientist joining politics often evolves into a statesman. Moreover, the main dissimilarity between a statesman and a politician is that while a statesman looks for the interests of the next generation, the primary focus of the politician quite often is the next election. Hence, it is overdue that for the good of humanity more scientists get involved in politics. Dr. Upinder Fotadar
Who better to run a country than someone who can run a lab? I'm all for it. I can't wait until this forum opens, I'm expecting some insightful stuff.
I study Physics and History as an undergraduate. I have become increasingly frustrated at the government being so slow to react to global warming. We have also had a horrible energy policy and are now paying the price for it. If politicians knew how GW worked and the true importance of energy, these problems would have been worked on more efficiently. As this world gets more complicated, it requires scientists to run it! I have even thought of going to law school to this specific end.