Communications of the ACM
These Scientists May Be Your Next Members of Congress
Candidates for Congress (clockwise from top left): Chrissy Houlahan, an industrial engineer; Steve Watkins, a systems engineer; Hiral Tipirneni, an emergency room physician; and Lauren Underwood, a nurse.
Nurses, nuclear engineers, computer scientists, and biochemists all over the United States are bidding for seats in Congress. These candidates share a commitment to bringing evidence-based decision-making to government and a desire for elected officials to better reflect the varied backgrounds and professions of their constituents. (Unlike the average citizen, most senators hold law degrees.)
Many of these candidates are newcomers to politics, bolstered by groups like 314 Action, which provides resources to aspiring politicians with scientific backgrounds. Others have already launched political careers at state and national levels. Regardless, their scientific training has grounded them throughout their professional lives, a sensibility they hope to bring to government.
From Popular Science
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