How to Vet Presidential Candidates for Their Science Savvy-Tested List of Senators

Senators have a lot of work to do to ensure that the future of our country is in the hands of the right leaders. Through the Senate’s confirmation process, they are responsible for vetting nominees for the highest leadership positions in government agencies.

There are more than 1,300 positions that require Senate confirmation, many of which will create policies and programs that rely heavily on expertise and scientific knowledge. These are important positions to protect public health and the environment, keep the nation’s food and medicine safe, and advance US interests. Senators need to make sure their nominees are qualified for the job and avoid costly mistakes that put people’s lives and the health of our planet at risk.

Other positions you may have heard of include Under Secretary for Nuclear Security for the Department of Energy; Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering for the Department of Defense; Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); and Directors of the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

My colleagues are already worried about President-elect Trump’s choices to lead the EPA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Justice, and why the administration is A NOAA channel must understand and advocate for science.

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Why should we care that presidential candidates know how to understand and use science correctly when making decisions? Another important reason is that President-elect Trump’s scientific understanding does not inspire confidence, so senators must ensure that the people who run the administration have a solid scientific foundation.

You may remember “Sharpiegate” in 2019, when then-President Trump identified the path of Hurricane Dorian with a black Sharpie marker. He changed the official weather forecast to suggest a hurricane could hit Alabama. Despite corrections from the National Weather Service, President Trump continued to insist he was right, creating public confusion over who should evacuate and where emergency response equipment would be needed. . This put American lives and livelihoods at risk and wasted taxpayer dollars.

Senators evaluating candidates to oversee science-based policies and programs should evaluate them for the following:

1. Strong scientific background. Does the candidate know their quarks from their quasars or their atoms from their amino acids? Are they talking to real experts on the subject? Are they investigating people who pretend to be experts who are actually purveyors of false or misleading information? Do they assess potential conflicts of interest for the professionals they are interviewing? A strong understanding of technical tools is essential for making laws that keep us safe, for example, environmental pollutants such as the carcinogenic gas ethylene oxide.
2. Analytical skills. The candidate should be able to analyze complex data, interpret scientific research, and apply findings to policy development or program implementation. Increasing the reliability of the electricity grid, for example, requires our leaders to integrate information about the costs and benefits of energy storage options taking into account many factors such as local growth projections, demand increasing electricity, solar and wind profile over time, energy production with old gas technology, and policy implications.
3. Deep thinking. Look for someone who asks for ideas, even questions about ideas! The candidate should be aware of the heuristics and biases that challenge all human cognition and develop strategies to deal with these weaknesses. For example, the bias that restricts funding for all government research that uses fetal cells endangers vaccines, transplants, and treatments for disabling diseases like Parkinson’s.
4. Communication skills. The candidate must be able to communicate complex scientific concepts in a clear manner that your grandmother (or even the President) will understand. For example, explaining the concepts of nuclear toxicology is important to help the public understand why and how they can avoid exposure to radiation.
5. Problem solving skills: They should be able to identify problems and come up with innovative solutions based on science. There won’t be many opportunities to test this knowledge, especially in times like “dangerous weather,” when climate change causes hurricanes, extreme heat, and wildfires. it culminates in a collision.
6. Moral judgment: Senators must ensure that the candidate has a strong sense of scientific integrity and intellectual integrity, as they will be making decisions that can greatly affect the health and safety of the public. Why? Because lives and livelihoods are at stake. Lessons from previous administrations and examples of anti-science practices during the first Trump administration are well documented by UCS.
7. Teamwork: The candidate should get along well with others, including scientists, policy makers, and members of the public who are directly or indirectly affected by their programs. The nominee has a particular responsibility to respect and protect joint science workers because these professionals are essential to keeping people and our planet safe and healthy.
8. Adaptability: Having the ability to adapt to new scientific developments and changing policy situations is important because science changes, as do environmental management scientists. Candidates will need to integrate the latest science and other factors as they decide on the right solution to complex problems.
9. Leadership skills: This includes the ability to motivate and guide teams, and to make difficult decisions when necessary. A navigator needs to navigate a sea of ​​scientific jargon, conflicting evidence, and differing ideas and values. Negotiations on a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty are just one example where leadership plays an important role in global stability, in this case preventing a runaway arms race.
10. Desire for public service: A genuine commitment to using science to help society and improve public policy is a must. Taxpayer dollars will pay this candidate’s salary, so I want them to work for me.

Some of these may sound like “no duh” suggestions. But we don’t have to look back too far to see when lack of scientific expertise, disrespect for scientific methods, or ignorance of science has resulted in preventable death and disease, or serious harm to our world. For senators who find science frustrating, this simple rubric can help highlight who can be trusted to lead government departments and agencies that rely on science to solve important problems and the needs of their constituents.