Posted by Jack Sterne, jack@oceanchampions.org
So my question to those of you out there in science blog land is this: does politics matter to you?
One of the best fish advocates in Congress could go down (If you don't believe me see today's Washington Post).
Gilchrest could be replaced by an anti-environment zealot.
Do you care?
Key members of Congress work to get science projects funded.
Do you believe that building relationships with these members makes a difference in funding, and to your work?
I can envision a national ocean policy that directs the federal government to "protect, maintain, and restore" the oceans.
Can you?
It takes Congress to make that happen.
How about the presidential...do you care about that?
Does politics matter to you?
Is there life beyond the crosshairs of your microscope?
Really, I want to know.
Comments
Is there life beyond the crosshairs of your microscope?
Really, I want to know.
I think science types have been blessed by the Good Lord. Maybe we have an extra gene they haven't found yet? LOL! I was talking to a friend of mine who is a Ph.D. business science professor the other day about retirement. I said that I don't envision science types ever retiring. On their deathbeds they are going to want to be looking into a microscope or figuring out that formula or equation. He agreed. We are all obsessed with our love for science and learning and how to make the world a better place with the knowledge. Since we live on the big blue marble with all it's systems, including politics and policy making we have to care to the extent that that effects us. But it is hard to get as passionate about that as we may be about the latest breakthroughs in science! Dave Beriggs :~)
Posted by: Dave Briggs | January 29, 2008 3:04 PM
I care a lot about politics. In fact, I am a political junkie to a certain extent. Given that so much of science in the US is dependent upon federal funding (I myself am in biomedical research, and my salary is paid for by NIH funding), I think scientists ignore politics at our peril. And I would have to say that I am almost as passionate about politics as I am about science. I just can't help it.
Posted by: Mark F. | January 29, 2008 8:01 PM
I have a terrible feeling that the gene that makes most scientists not care about politics is linked with the gene that makes most scientists not read blogs. So I wouldn't plan on hearing from that crowd.
Posted by: Ferguson | January 29, 2008 9:08 PM
Well, glad to hear that there is some hope! I put that post up because I noticed that our posts get very few comments relative to other, more science-oriented posts on this site, and it just made me wonder whether we are wasting our time trying to talk politics on a site that's really more focused on science.
I'd like to think not, because if you care about science and you care about conservation, you really have to care about what's going on in Washington these days. Science has been under such an assault politically, and it will take concerted political efforts not only to defend it, but to advance conservation goals.
Posted by: Jack Sterne | January 30, 2008 10:30 AM
Some of us do and some don't. Since my blog is about 1/3 politics I guess that qualifies, but I also have some broken bones and an arrest to my credit, not to mention a history of draft resistance (if you remember what the draft is). And I am not and wasn't alone. I was with thousands and tens of thousands of scientists and doctors. We lost a couple of generations between the sixties and now but they are back in full force. I have wonderful students who are dedicated, engaged and idealistic. I graduated one yesterday -- my last doctoral student, as it turns out, and I went out on a high note. She will be a wonderful role model, is an activist and will do good things. I don't know much about your field so I didn't know about this endangered Congress person, but I'm guessing there are a lot of similar people in my field you don't know about either. It doesn't mean we don't care about politics. It means there are only a certain number of hours in the day and never enough of us to do what needs to be done. Believe me, it's like that in every profession and during most historical times. But scientists are plenty engaged in politics and in the cyclical way of things becoming more so (again). I'm not snapping at you (on the contrary I am glad you asked), but our great enemy is cynicism and everything that feeds it.
Posted by: revere | January 30, 2008 4:04 PM