The midterm elections are approaching. Most of the conversation concerns legislatures and governors, but some of the most critical and underestimated races affect people’s daily lives. member of, or a position such as county commissioner, 500,000 state and local government offices In the United States, it oversees complex policies involving science-related issues such as climate change, health care, and reproductive choice. State-level offices spend $3.2 trillion in taxpayer money each year, much of it held by people who deny facts, data, and even reality itself when formulating policy.
In the current environment of school boards banning books, local leaders eschewing best public health practices, and state leaders enacting extreme abortion bans, STEM professionals and data-driven policy makers can and should. run for local government officeMany of these positions are not full-time. Science-driven professionals can become civil servants while continuing their careers as engineers, professors of biology, or doctors.There are few problems facing our country that would not benefit from having more resources. Data-Driven Policy Makers in Public Services.
That is why the organization I founded, 314 Action, Scientists running for state and local government offices. When you think about running, it’s time to think about the science of pursuing service. We give you the tools to match your interests with the right electoral office. It walks you through the various steps of the election process, such as choosing a treasurer and submitting your candidacy paperwork, or communicating with voters and organizing volunteers. For first-time candidates, the process can seem daunting. Our tool breaks it down into a step-by-step process that is easy to follow and lead to success.
In addition to building a community of scientist donors, 314 Action has become a campaign incubator for scientists running for public office. One of the organization’s first initiatives was to organize candidate training and teach scientists how to run successful campaigns and get their message across.When started a new initiative We help take scientists off the sidelines and into positions in state legislatures and local governments.
Debates in the scientific community about how much scientists should get involved in politics are nothing new, but the need for a support system for STEM candidates to step out of the sidelines is more needed than ever. .
I should know
When I ran for Congress, I knew how to be a chemist, but I didn’t know much about running for public office. That was in 2014, when Congress voted multiple times to repeal the Affordable Care Act rather than work to make health care more accessible and affordable. . Gun violence continues to kill more than 40,000 Americans annually.
Congress even banned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from compiling data on gun violence. And while climate change was recognized as a distinct threat by our military and scientific institutions, many politicians still campaigned on their skepticism.
It became clear that these were not problems that science alone could solve. Science has already taught us to look to data.2 Emissions had to be reduced. This was a problem that could only be addressed by changing policy makers and their priorities.
I didn’t win the election, but I learned that it takes more than passion to be successful in an election. Network is required. Campaign expertise required. You need someone to teach you how to turn your analytical skills into campaign success.
Placing STEM leaders in elected positions can help move the needle and have sound discussions of context, reason, and policy based on evidence rather than ignorance and speculation. There are many examples of this at the state and municipal level.
California Congressman Luz Rivas is an electrical engineer and chairman of the Natural Resources Commission.she introduced and passed legislation Establish advanced warning and ranking systems for heat, similar to what exists for wildfires and tornadoes.
Val Arkoosh, MD, MPH is Commissioner of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She has used her position and her expertise to approach them systematically and impartially. Pandemic Recovery Fund Distribution Promote affordable housing, access to child care, protection of vacant land, and expansion of behavioral health operations and facilities.
Andrew Zwicker, a New Jersey Senator with a Ph.D. in physics and first elected to the state legislature in 2015, has sponsored several bills. enacted This makes it easier for people to vote and participate in democracy within the state.
Of course, running for public office isn’t for everyone. Taking the leap is hard work. Especially when many of us come from hard science with little knowledge of the role of science in policy, public service and shaping society. Recognizing that we all have civic responsibilities means taking the first step. Attend school board meetings, serve on community committees, volunteer on campaigns, and vote.
This is not a new concept given the culture of support embedded in other professions. Law firms, for example, traditionally support one of their employees if she runs for public office because law affects policy and policy affects law. Still, science does, or at least it should, but there is no such culture for scientists or scientific careers. We are committed to changing that, but for scientists who are ready to make that leap, we are ready to help. We hope you will join us in this fight by supporting our work for the Americans who want the system.
The future of our country and our planet depends on it.
This is an opinion and analysis article and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily Scientific American.
