Congress’s complex relationship with science

When scientists bring up politics, it is often to express concern at lawmakers’ apparent lack of respect for the scientific process. I frequently heard such comments last summer, when I was an American Institute of Physics Mather Policy Intern for the Democratic staff of the House Science Committee. On learning of my internship, nearly every one of my professors begged me to save research funding.

As a 10-week intern still in college, I was hardly in any position to make funding decisions. However, my time on Capitol Hill gave me a much better understanding of what actually takes place behind the scenes of every political decision. Though I felt some of the frustrations that many scientists have with government, the experience left me with a more positive outlook on science policy, one that I would like to share with other physicists.

It doesn’t require an internship on the Hill to see that some issues, particularly climate change, are stubbornly partisan, with some lawmakers showing a blatant disregard for the overwhelming consensus of scientists. In preparation for my summer work, I spent some time examining a divisive March hearing on climate change hosted by the Science Committee, where, in one particularly troubling comment, Representative Randy Weber (R-TX) jokingly accused a Republican witness of “blasphemy” for suggesting that the US adopt a carbon tax. I was also disappointed when, toward the end of the summer, committee chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) published an article in which he acknowledged that climate change may be occurring but argued that it would have a positive effect on society.

Those moments make it tempting to give in to frustration at the apparent dismissal of scientific evidence. However, even the issue of climate change may not be as hopeless as it sometimes appears. Although it is more difficult for Republicans to speak out against climate change under the Trump administration, a growing number of them are signing on to the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and related organizations.

Furthermore, basic research is generally supported on both sides of the aisle. In June I attended a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing that examined President Trump’s proposed budget for the Department of Energy. I was delighted to see chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) express her and the committee’s strong support of the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), a program that funds high-risk, high-reward research projects. During a House science subcommittee hearing, in response to a congressman’s reservations about proposed budget cuts, chairman Weber reminded everyone present whose priorities ultimately matter when it comes to funding: “The good news is that the president doesn’t have the last word—he may have the first tweet, but not the last word.”

That sardonic moment illustrates another aspect of policy that is often overlooked yet plays a huge role in life on the Hill: the humanity of our congressional representatives. We see our elected officials engage in arguments, impassioned speeches, and fiery retorts, but we miss the camaraderie that comes from working on difficult policy issues that affect millions of people. We miss the pats on the back, the gentle teasing, the “How’s your kid liking preschool?” conversations. Additionally, politicians are ceaselessly attempting to balance their private funding, personal and party platforms, and the ever-threatening midterm elections. All those issues underscore the point that relationships on the Hill, particularly across parties, are more complex than they appear.

One concern voiced frequently by the science community and science advocates is the massive underrepresentation of scientists in government. Of the 535 voting members of the 115th Congress, just 3 are career scientists (an additional 8 have backgrounds in engineering, and 28 come from the health professions). Although that is a legitimate concern, it does not mean that science is completely disregarded in most areas of Capitol Hill. On the contrary, members of Congress typically make up for their lack of expertise by surrounding themselves with expert staff to advise on science issues. During my time in Washington, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of scientists, including those with PhDs in physics or a related field, with whom I met and worked.

I was also impressed by the number of informational events held on the Hill covering specific areas of science and research. The Science Committee hearings this summer explored issues including materials science, computer science education, and planetary flagship missions. Expert witnesses shared the importance of their work and expanded on recent advances in their respective fields. I also attended briefings and fairs hosted by NASA and other organizations. At those events I got to speak with everyone from astronauts to members of Congress about their lives and relationships with science.

Regardless of my personal experience, it remains to be seen whether our representatives will continue to defend research funding. As scientists, we have a responsibility to make our research accessible and its importance clear to policymakers. Politics ultimately comes down to a popularity contest, and policymakers are constantly trying to keep up with public opinion among their constituents. This means that if you succeed in capturing public interest and support for your project or lab, it is more likely to be supported by your representatives. Science outreach is not solely an altruistic exercise.

So for the sake of science, speak with the press, involve the public, and share your work with the policymakers who will ultimately decide the future of research funding. The interest is there, and the ball is in our court.

Eleanor Hook is a senior at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. She is a physics major and a member of Sigma Pi Sigma. The Mather Policy Internship is offered through the Society of Physics Students, a member society of the American Institute of Physics, which publishes Physics Today.