Jess Phoenix, a California volcanologist, has decided to run for Congress as a Democrat in an attempt to unseat Republican Steve Knight and get more scientists elected to government positions.
Citing the environmental policies of the current presidential administration and Congress, Phoenix said she would give up her work with minority college students with the nonprofit Blueprint Earth and her other scientific work to go to Congress to fight for better environmental and other policies.
According to The Washington Post, Phoenix’s candidacy in California’s 25th district was inspired by the March for Science in April and by 314 Action, a new initiative to encourage scientists to run for office. The PAC aims to connect the scientists with consultants and donors to better their chances for political success.
"Politicians have shown us that they are unashamed to meddle in science," 314 Action founder Shaughnessy Naughton said, the Post reported. "I think the way to combat that is to get a seat at the table."
More than 4,000 scientists have filled out a form on the PAC’s website indicating interest in running for office, the Post reported.
Phoenix, who has given a TED Talk and appeared on Discovery’s “Trailblazers” last year, turned 35 right after Donald Trump was elected president.
“There was no more waiting for someday. I realized there is no better time than now,” she said, the Post reported.
“I decided that I wanted to help make the U.S. government a place where logic, sanity and facts prevail," she told IFL Science. "It may not happen, but at the very least, people like me will have tried."
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