Physicist nominated as Energy secretary. Are there enough scientists in Washington?
By naming Ernest Moniz as his next Energy secretary, President Obama is demonstrating his desire聽for scientific experience in a post typically occupied by business leaders or former politicians.
Is he right? Does Washington need more scientists?
Mr. Moniz's r茅sum茅 鈥� he's a聽nuclear physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 鈥撀爄s rare in a town dominated by lawyers and businesspeople. The 112th Congress, for example, counts among its ranks one physicist, one chemist, six engineers, and one microbiologist, all of whom are in the House of Representatives. That's less than 2 percent of the legislative body, which grapples with difficult energy issues (not to mention other areas of science) and is tasked with funding some of the most advanced research in the world.聽Some argue that more scientists are needed in the nation's capital, particularly as the nation grapples with complex policy questions surrounding climate change.聽
"Don't leave out public policy," former Energy secretary Bill Richardson urged engineers, chemists and physicists attending an energy conference Saturday at Moniz's employer, MIT. "Don't leave out running for office."
It's unwelcome advice for some in the scientific community who see political involvement as frivolous or antithetical to their role as neutral, nonpartisan observers of facts.
When researchers enter the political arena, 鈥渢he scientific establishment holds that against a scientist to some extent,鈥� US聽Rep. Rush Holt (D) of New Jersey told the聽聽in 2011. Mr. Holt earned a degree in physics from Carleton College and served as an assistant director at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory before running for office.聽
The idea of a scientist leading the Department of Energy is also a little suspect in Washington these days, given that Moniz would replace Steven Chu, a Nobel physicist. While heading the Energy Department, Mr. Chu earned the praise of many in the scientific community for championing renewables and investing Recovery Act funds into energy projects.聽But he lacked experience in Washington.
Environmentalists criticized Chu for failing to lead the highly-politicized charge on a comprehensive climate bill. Conservatives attacked him for directing federal funds to Solyndra and other "green" energy companies that ultimately failed.
In Moniz's favor, he does have prior Washington experience. During the Clinton administration, he served as聽under secretary of the Department of Energy and associate director for science in the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Mr. Obama named him to his聽Science and Technology Advisory Council.
鈥淗e brings expertise, experience in a prior administration and real science credibility,鈥� Ian Bowles, former Massachusetts secretary of energy and environmental affairs and now a managing director of venture firm WindSail Capital, told . 鈥淵ou can argue about whether you want to have a scientist, but within that food group he鈥檚 an excellent choice.鈥澛犅�
In Monday's press conference, the president emphasized Moniz's dual-backgrounds, calling him a "brilliant scientist" who聽鈥渒nows his way around the Department of Energy."
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