For almost three months this year, a mini-volcano of oil and gas erupted into the Gulf of Mexico and disgorged nearly 5 million barrels of petroleum. Throughout the crisis, a poised scientist gave countless media interviews to explain to a scared and angry public how the US government was striving to contain the damage. Behind the scenes, with decisive leadership, she ran the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — the agency that closed fisheries, tracked oil, protected habitats and assessed the damage to communities and the environment. For her role in the response to the crisis, Jane Lubchenco is Nature's Newsmaker of the Year (see page 1024).

Before becoming NOAA administrator in 2009, Lubchenco had a reputation as both a leading researcher and an environmental advocate. She made important advances in the basic science of coastal ecology and helped to raise awareness of the many threats to ocean ecosystems around the world. Lubchenco is now reorienting her US$4.7-billion federal agency to strengthen the science and policies that protect US marine resources.

The United States could do with more scientists like Lubchenco, with the skills and the dedication to speak out on issues that matter. The need will be particularly acute next year, when the Republican Party takes over the US House of Representatives. Although Republicans have generally supported basic science, incoming House leaders have made it clear that they are hostile to certain areas of research. Some have pledged to hold hearings on climate science, which they argue is seriously flawed and has overstated the evidence for global warming. Adrian Smith (Republican, Nebraska) introduced the YouCut Citizen Review, which calls on the US public to search the National Science Foundation website list of peer-reviewed grants for those they consider wasteful. And Darrell Issa (Republican, California), the incoming head of the powerful Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, last year led an effort to revoke funding from the National Institutes of Health for studies of substance abuse and HIV risk in other countries (see Nature 460, 667; 2009).

Scientific leaders in the United States must stand up against such attacks. As a first step, they should try to meet with incoming House members from both parties to voice their concerns and explain the rationale behind research in controversial areas. Recognizing that all politics is local, scientists will need to make clear why climate change or HIV research matters for the communities represented by members of Congress. They should take along science-savvy business leaders and locally elected officials to help make their case.

Beyond the scientific leadership, there is a broader need for more individual scientists to communicate with the public. Currently, that kind of activity is not particularly valued — and is even disdained — in some fields of research. And spending time meeting with elected leaders or local journalists does not help a young scientist to get tenure.

Most scientists receive no training in public communication, and will need to hone their skills. Some can learn from experienced mentors; others can benefit from programmes developed by scientific societies and other groups (see page 1032). Members of academic and government agencies can consult with public-affairs representatives, who can show them the best ways to communicate the results and implications of research. Another avenue is the Congressional Science Fellowship programme, through which scientific societies can sponsor scientists to work in congressional offices for a year, providing advice to elected officials. The societies involved should expand their programmes, and groups that do not currently sponsor fellows should consider it.

As with any endeavour, it takes time to develop the communication skills that Lubchenco and other senior scientists have acquired. Even Lubchenco foundered at times during the oil spill. She made some mistakes and was criticized for the way that her agency initially downplayed the evidence for oil spreading below the surface. Despite such slips, Lubchenco has steered her agency through the crisis with a steady hand. She is an outstanding example of how much one scientist can do to improve both society and natural ecosystems. Others would do well to follow her lead.