February 17, 2011 - Dr. Kathy Barker joins us to discuss culture in and out of the lab, and the potential barriers for scientists that have interests in advocacy.

1. Beyond the Bench:
The Perceived Price of
Activism
Kathy Barker
February 17, 2011
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3. The sometimes
obscure lab culture...

4. Are scientists activists?

5. Activism takes you to the
realm of controversy.
Data
DATA Interpretation Advice Counsel Advocacy Activism
How to Lose Your Political Virginity while Keeping Your
Scientific Credibility
David Blockstein, BioScience 52(1): 91-96. 2002.

6. There is a strong
culture of activism in
science.
But it isn’t part of
the mainstream
story.

7. Albert Einstein, of course.
The economic anarchy of capitalist
society as it exists today is, in my opinion,
the real source of evil.
(Albert Einstein, 1949)

8. Are successful scientists more
comfortable with activism?
(Are activist scientists more likely to
be successful?)
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9. Is there a price to pay
for activism?
• No.
• Yes
• Yes, but so what?
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10. The worries.
• I don’t have the time.
• It might hurt
professionally.
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11. I don’t have the time.
• That is the dilemma for every scientist
with a concern about the welfare of
society or how science is used in
society. For Muller it was a lifetime
commitment that required an abundant
amount of energy, a very efficient use of
time, and a capacity to endure despite
withering criticism and setbacks.
E.A. Carlson, “Speaking Out About the Social Implications of Science:
The Uneven Legacy of H.J. Muller. Genetics 187,1-7, January 2011
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12. It might hurt me
professionally.
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13. Tips for political advocacy
• 1. Convey that you understand something about Congress.
• 2. Demonstrate your grasp of the fundamentals of the
congressional decision- making system.
• 3. Don’t seek support of science as an entitlement.
• 4. Don’t convey negative attitudes about politics and politicians.
• 5. Perform good intelligence gathering in advance.
• 6. Always use a systematic checklist.
• 7. Do your homework on the issue or problem.
• 8. Timing is vital.
From Wells 1993, AAAS

14. Tips continued.
• 9. Understand congressional limitations.
• 10. Make it easy for those in Congress to help you.
• 11. Keep the “bottom line” in mind.
• 12. Use time- your and theirs-effectively.
• 13. Remember that members and staff and mostly
generalists.
• 14. Don’t patronize either members or staff.
• 15. Don’t underestimate the the role of staff in Congress.
• 16. Consider and offer appropriate follow-up.
• 17. Remember that the great majority of members and staff
are intelligent, hardworking, and dedicated to public service.

15. Recommended best practices for
science-based advocacy.
Note: These are intended to suggest “norms of behavior” for scientist-
advocates, to ensure that their policy recommendations are grounded in
science: ie to distinguish “science-based advocacy” from “advocacy-driven
science.” from “Above the din but in the fray: environmental scientists as effective
15 advocates. Meyer et al, 2010, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 8:299-305.

16. A good place to
start- working with
organizations.
Professional organizations- local chapters,
involvement with section, workshops at
meetings, etc.
Advocacy organizations- check funding and
mission, push for community opportunities.
Community organizations- interdisciplinary
interests.

17. Communicating
across cultures.
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19. Motives? Why do you
want to talk to the public?
• To do your job.
• Inform.
• Preach.
• Share.
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20. Conversing beyond the
bench
• Tell a story. It isn’t about the data.
• Frame the discussion.
• Keep it brief.
• Don’t worry about nuance.
• Avoid jargon, embedded theories,
and inside jokes.

21. Listen
.

24. Meetings are
different.
• No jargon.
• Learn Robert’s rules.
• Be prepared to talk about
emotions, personal aspects of an
issue.
• Cope with different formats, and a
lack of an agenda.
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25. Embrace
(Okay, tolerate)
complexity and conflict.
• You might as well- it isn’t going away.
• Be honest about your own ability to
accept a paradigm change.
• Consider interests, not issues.
• Assume best intentions.
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• Don’t take things personally.

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28. Fair
Medical
Trade.
What Mahmood Bhutto did right:
• Carefully considered strategy and aims.
• Submitted Opinion paper and then waited..
• Worked with the British Medical Association.
• Offered and facilitated solutions.
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30. K-12 activism
• Many opportunities for action-
mentoring, curriculum, science
programs, in-class teaching,
etc.
• Fraught with political and
communication issues.
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31. Advice from a
teacher. possible for
• Rule 1- Make it as easy as
the teacher. Don’t ask the teacher for
supplies, or to provide supplementary
readings for the students.
• Rule 2- Ask, don’t tell. You don’t have to
act subservient, but you aren’t the boss
here. Deal with the teacher as one
professional to another, but remember
you are in her territory, not yours.
Gloria Seelman, Student and Teacher Internship
Program Coordinator, NIH

32. And for students:
“For young students, racial and cultural
background, as well as gender, will
influence how those students feel about
science, and whether or not they are able
to “hear” you. It is still very possible to find
students who believe they are too dumb to
learn science, and this may manifest not
necessarily in shyness and hesitance, but
in acting out or being rude.

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35. 35

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37. Surprising venues.
Hagopian, A. and K. Barker (2011).
"Should we end military recruiting in
high schools as a matter of child
protection and public health?"
American Journal of Public Health
101(1): 19-23.
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38. What we said:
• Recruiting minors in schools is contrary to the U.N.
Convention of the Child.
• Military recruiting is aggressive in public schools.
• Health outcomes for young people in the military
are far worse than for adults.
• Brain function in minors, especially in the frontal
lobe, is different than in maturity.
• The process of military recruiting in schools is
similar to that of predatory grooming.
• This should be a public health issue, taken up by
organizations concerned about children’s welfare.

39. What “they” said we
said:
• Military recruiters are sexual predators!

40. Things I learned...
• Jargon is hard to avoid.
• You can be personal and be
professional.
• You are often heard better if you speak
from inside the community.
• There comes a time of limited returns.
• Leverage, leverage, leverage.
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41. Professional development
is changing.
• Communication skills are recognized as
being vital.
• Advocacy as a basic competency for
scientists, engineers, everyone.
• Need role models
And so is the culture!
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42. Know about the
history of science
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43. Take advantage
of every
opportunity to
communicate.
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45. Be revolutionary!