Worst Science Jobs II: Number 12

by Peter Stemmler Disillusioning, political quagmire, futile (see more) Peter Stemmler

Selected from among the brightest young scientists in the
country, they travel
to Washington, like so many Drs. Smith, to serve their country
and illuminate Congress with the bright light of scientific truth. And then . . . no one listens to them.


Placed as official advisers to our congressional representatives, these fellows’ disillusionment is swift and merciless. “It’s an exercise in futility to get science across in Congress,” says Raphael Sagarin, a marine ecologist who just finished his year
in D.C. “The side with more power wins, not the side with the best data or the most cogent argument.”

Sagarin saw this happen
on issues in his field from endangered species to
global warming. Despite the din of scientific consensus on the latter, our government continues to ignore the problem. Sagarin’s boss, Rep. Hilda Solis (DCA), sought to base legislation on solid science, as did many of her colleagues from across the aisle. But the committees that spawn environmental legislation—Resources, and Energy and Commerce—are chaired by Richard Pombo (RCA) and Billy Tauzin (RLA) respectively. Pombo has announced his wish to “update” the Endangered Species Act. Tauzin seems more interested in helping corporate polluters than in looking at greenhouse gas data.


“It was so bad on this committee that they would not even pass an amendment that would have stated for the record that Congress has concerns about global warming,” Sagarin recalls. “It’s so highly politicized, the science just doesn’t
matter.” Though he is now embarking on his post-doc, Sagarin feels great relief to be liberated from his government post. “I’m happy,” he says, “to come back to science.”





Want to learn more about breakthroughs in electronics, medicine, nanotech, and more?
Subscribe to Popular Science today, for less than $1 per issue!

0 Comments


138 years of Popular Science at your fingertips.

Innovation Challenges



Popular Science+ For iPad

Each issue has been completely reimagined for your iPad. See our amazing new vision for magazines that goes far beyond the printed page



Download Our App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone or Android phone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed


February 2012: The Future of Fun

Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?


circ-top-header.gif
circ-cover.gif
bmxmag-ps