Advocacy, public service, and outreach: Why scientists must step up
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Advocacy, public service, and outreach: Why scientists must step up By Boris Dyatkin
orn in Russia to a family of scientists, I watched my family make the difficult choice to move to the United States as research and industry opportunities disappeared. While celebrating the successes of scientific achievement in Russia, I witnessed the devastating impact of poor science policy. In the United States, I found an entirely different approach to scientific inquiry, one that has offered tremendous growth but that should never be taken for granted. I encountered the true ramifications of this situation face-to-face the moment that I entered graduate school in 2011. At the time, fiscal austerity became a prevalent governing philosophy, and its implications reverberated through the research institutions around me. However, as I encountered growing uncertainty about the future of scientific progress in this country, I found more opportunities to advocate on behalf of the field that I love. I arrived at the realization that these efforts have real and lasting consequences and are an absolutely essential part of being a scientist in our society. As George Bernard Shaw said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” I became unsatisfied with the level of conversation about the scope of scientific policy and the numerous layers of society that it impacts. The media, and much of the discussion in Washington, DC, focused on a few trendy topics and ignored a critical majority of important issues. I did not see how such a onesided and narrow conversation could yield a progressive path forward. I took an opportunity to upgrade the discussion and participated in several Congressional Visitation Days. I, along with a group of fellow student scientists, traveled to
Capitol Hill and met with US Senators, Representatives, and their staffers to discuss the critical aspects of science policy. In defiance of my expectations and preconceived notions, everyone in Washington warmly received us and strongly considered our issues. A staffer later admitted to me that groups like ours are some of their favorite visiting constituencies. Beyond our efforts, multiple professional societies carry out these visits throughout the year. They stress different aspects of the same grand message: a robust science policy creates high-paying jobs, good health care, clean air and water, and a safe and prosperous country. These advocacy efforts, both in Washington and during town hall meetings across the country, are essential. As our government contemplates a broad array of issues and budget decisions, other groups speak with constituents and schedule meetings with politicians. They work tirelessly to get their interests on the table in the places that matter. If we do not do the same, other issues will consume the bandwidth of the public and the politicians, and science policy will get crowded out. These efforts have a track record of success. Our government advocacy efforts have inclu
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