Representative Rush Holt is a rare thing in the US Congress — a bona fide scientist building a promising political career. Since his election for the 12th district of New Jersey — the one containing Princeton — eight years ago, this former physicist and son of a West Virginia senator has garnered several powerful committee slots. Holt has emerged as one of the Democratic Party's most prominent spokesmen on science, education and security. Colin Macilwain asked him about the life of a scientist on Capitol Hill, and what the mid-term elections could mean for science and education.
