314 Action is a new group that organizes scientists to run for office; they were founded in opposition to trumpism and the official policy of gagging government scientists and freezing EPA research grants.
The group already has 400 people ready to stand for office. The group has recruited seasoned political operators to serve as mentors for future candidates, and will kick off its activities in earnest on Pi Day, March 14, with educational sessions for those willing to run. The group is only fielding Democratic candidates because of the Republican party's official policy of climate change denial.
The organization, named after the first three digits of pi, is a political action committee that was created to support scientists in running for office. It’s the science version of Emily’s List, which focuses on pro-choice female candidates, or VoteVets, which backs war veterans. “A lot of scientists traditionally feel that science is above politics but we’re seeing that politics is not above getting involved in science,” says founder Shaughnessy Naughton. “We’re losing, and the only way to stop that is to get more people with scientific backgrounds at the table.”
Professor Smith Goes to Washington
[Ed Yong/The Atalntic]
(via Naked Capitalism)
(Image: XKCD)
