Sometimes scientists have a duty to swap the pipette for the placard | Adam Smith | Talking science to power

With some notable exceptions, most scientists seem unwilling or unable to participate in the political process. Why?

earlier this week, more than 100 scientists have changed their lab coats at the funeral of jackets and marched through Westminster to mourn "the death of British science."

After carrying a coffin down Whitehall, the group delivered a petition to Number 10 and met with its members. They warned that if no changes are made to how to fund their research, the British science, but they all disappeared. The funeral marked the birth of a new pressure group, Science for the future.

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Tuesday was the latest in a series of political protests in the name of science. In the last general election, the author of science Michael Brooks was for Parliament in the riding held by Conservative MP David Tredinnick, who believes that the NHS should fund treatments that have not been tested scientifically, and as radionics homeopathy.

Usually, however, in favor of science are the manifestations of funding. In response to rumors of cuts in 2010, scientists have formed a group called Science is vital. They put on lab coats and headed for the parliament with banners with slogans like "No more Mr. Nice Guy".

But the protests are blunt instruments, organized by activists who are not familiar with the political process. "The average scientist does not like the way politics is done and therefore how they can influence it," said Jon Spiers, the previous policy and campaign manager at Cancer Research UK. "There is an attitude that policy may have just made. "

political science is based on input from many sources, scientific societies and academies (including the Royal Society and the Institute of Physics) to businesses and pressure groups (for example, the Campaign for science and engineering).

But just not enough people. Andrew Miller, Labour Lib Dem Julian Huppert may be on opposite sides of the House of Commons, but they share the same position on this point. "It's your job as a scientist to take responsibility for public participation," says Miller. "Part of it is certain that your local MP to understand what you are doing and the importance and potential of public benefits. "

Huppert So Miller and we hope to see more and more scientists in this two-way street, long before the use of flash mobs and financing of funeral protests.

Among scientists, however, no consensus on how to increase political commitment. Rees Kassen Canada biologist wrote that his fellow scientists can not communicate clearly enough for the democratic process. Yet he was writing short messages on Twitter, that the debate on science. Even the House of Commons science and technology committee is looking at Twitter and considering how they can participate in its deliberations (in the meantime you can follow @ xmalik Advisory Committee).

Some scientists are willing to participate in politics. Geneticist Dr. Douda Bensasson took part in the linkage system of the Royal Society, which associates each year at about 15 to 20 researchers with parliamentarians to imitate each other at work. The goal is for scientists to develop an appreciation of the political decision-making and for members to network with scientists who work. But this works only when the members are ready -. The regime has more scientists in the books that parliamentarians to establish links with

• Bensasson was signed for two years without a partner before she took matters into their own hands and contact your MP, Liberal Democrat John Leech. "An MP is more likely to say yes when it comes to their own constituents, because it's part of their job," says Bensasson, adding that he hopes to advance their participation.
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Other charity Newton's apple, which offers workshops and resources for scientists interested in learning more about politics. Miller, a trustee of the charity, believes that the parliament has to absorb the organization. There is precedent for this: the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (Post), which publishes independent reports on matters of science to come to all parliamentarians, who began as a charity in outside until it returned in 1993

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continues to attract scientists to the parliament, in consultation when writing their reports on issues such as technologies with low carbon emissions and the impact of video games. Post also employs researchers who practice through a scholarship scheme, run in collaboration with scientific societies and charities to give doctoral students the opportunity to spend three months in Parliament.

This is exactly the kind of experience Beccy Cummings, PhD, studying biology at Liverpool Univesity, has sought since he heard a previous post, we talked in a race. "If it was not for this conference, I do not think I even know they existed message," she said. As the speaker reeled off some of the issues post paid, by climate change to genetic testing, Cummings made a after market would give it a foothold in the parliament. "It was more interesting than just sign petitions," she said.
But so far failed to win a scholarship, which can attract up to 80 candidates per program. Candidates with little experience in science communication can be a disadvantage, because the application required to write a short report to parliament on a scientific topic of their choice. The fact is that few young researchers had to do something like that. According to Cummings, the science is still seen as centered on the study and nothing else, a sentiment that is, when he will speak to students about the different ways a science degree can open.

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