It’s partially that, and partially a fear that if they’re seen as doing political advocacy, they won’t be taken seriously as scientists anymore. Capitalist culture has done such a good job convincing us–even people who should know better–that physical science and public policy are totally separate magisteria that most scientists are really afraid to step slightly out of their lane.

Thanks for your words. I feel like I do more good in this role too, and I’m a million times happier. My administration lets me get away with a lot because of my credentials too: the student body calls my climatology class CCCC, for communist climate change class.