„Wissenschaft muss verteidigt werden“: Rekordzahl von Forschern kandidiert bei Zwischenwahlen in den USA. Viele Demokraten, die in die Politik wechseln, sind durch die Kürzungen der Trump-Regierung in der Wissenschaft motiviert – während Energie und KI für einige Republikaner eine Anziehungskraft darstellen.

>An unprecedented number of US scientists are trading in their lab coats to run for office in the US mid-term elections in November. Many running as Democrats are motivated by the actions of President Donald Trump and his Republican allies to delay and terminate research funding and redefine the goals of government-funded science. Different issues tend to galvanize the scientists running as Republicans, including the artificial-intelligence driven demand for more energy — along with a desire to play a part in science-backed solutions.

>The organization 314 Action, which recruits and backs Democratic scientists, engineers and health-care specialists to run for office, has received more than 700 applications from potential candidates seeking support during this election cycle — nearly triple its usual volume (see ‘Political push’). The organization funds candidates to win seats in their state and federal legislatures, with the aim of building “pro-science power at the ballot box”.

>For decades, the prevailing wisdom among researchers was that science should be separate from politics. The current political reshaping of US science should drive scientists to realize that this idea “is really a failed business model”, says Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action, which is based in Washington DC and named after the first three digits of π.

>“We scientists are used to sticking to our knitting,” says Sam Wang, a neuroscientist at Princeton University in New Jersey who is running to become a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives for the state’s 12th district. “But I began realizing that science needed defending.”

Here’s an excerpt of the story. I’m one of the reporters who wrote the story. As always, I’m keen to hear if there’s anything I missed, or if you have anything else that you think should be on my radar. My Signal is mkozlov.01. You can stay anonymous. Happy to answer any questions about how I reported this story too!

PS: If you hit the paywall, make a free account. It should let you read the full story

Looks like trump accidentally motivated USA to get serious!!!! Mission failed successfully