These 14 Scientists Are Opposing Anti-Science Conservatives in the Next Election

KALEIGH ROGERS at the Motherboard

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/ne7nbm/these-14-scientists-are-opposing-anti-science-conservatives-in-the-next-election

"SNIP...........


314 Action (named for, what else, the first three digits of pi), is a nonprofit group that formed last year to provide funding and resources to scientists seeking elected office. On Monday, it released a list of 14 candidates it is supporting who are running for Congress, state legislatures, and the Virginia governorship seat in 2017 and 2018. This is in addition to six incumbent scientist-politicians 314 endorses. Most of the candidates are challenging anti-science incumbents.

"What a lot of people realized from 2016 is that the traditional 'career politician' is not what voters are looking for," Josh Morrow, 314's executive director, told me over the phone. "They're looking for authenticity and real stories and real people, so there's a lot of excitement around our candidates."

Though a few of the candidates have had some experience with politics, the vast majority are making their first foray into the realm and leaving behind impressive careers in science, technology, and medicine to do so.

Take Dr. Mai Khanh Tran, a Harvard-graduate pediatrician who is taking on longtime incumbent Congressman Ed Royce (along with four other Democrat candidates) in California's 39th district. Dr. Tran has no political training or experience, but she told me after seeing the proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act, and realizing the impact it would have on her patients, she couldn't stay on the sidelines any more.

.............SNIP"