In the trenches: lessons for scientists from California's Proposition 71 campaign.
I describe a number of valuable lessons I learned from participating in California's Proposition 71 effort about the role that scientists and rigorous scientific advice can play in a public political process. I describe how scientists can provide valuable information and advice and how they can also gain a great deal from the experience that is valuable to a practicing research scientist. Finally, I argue that in the future, building similar broad coalitions to support biomedical and other areas of scientific research will be essential to protect publicly funded science. Thus, a key lesson from the Proposition 71 experience is that engagement of scientists with diverse nonscientific groups can make a big difference and that scientists must actively engage with the public in the future if we are to contribute robustly to the medical and economic health of our communities.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, and UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. lgoldstein@ucsd.edu
Lawrence S B
LS
Goldstein
D002140:California; D003146:Communications Media; D006801:Humans; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D011057:Politics; D011639:Public Opinion; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D057905:Stem Cell Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence