January 2003 - Division of Medical Sciences Bulletin - Harvard ...

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Volume VII, Number 1 - January 2003
Science Policy as an Alternative Career:
It's Not Just for Politicians Any More!
By Joseph F. Arboleda-Velasquez
Science is no longer a topic that matters only to those of us
researchers working long hours at the bench in order to steal
from nature some of its secrets. Knowledge is not encrypted
anymore into undecipherable codes meaningful only to tight circles
of selected individuals. In contrast, it seems that now, at the start of
the 21st century, science - and, in particular, biology - pervades
nearly every aspect of society. Thus, from street benches to the
Oval Office, people meet to discuss a range of scientific issues
related to such topics as cloning, stem cell research, genetically
modified food and atomic fission.
As a result of its increasingly high profile, science today has a
strong influence on public policy. Likewise, as our scientific
capabilities grow, the government must now regulate the direction
and limits of science. New technologies have given us the option of
living longer and healthier; however, the same scientific
developments have also been misused and turned into weapons for
destruction and bioterrorism. Such progress modifies the way we
live and creates a need to formulate policies that regulate the
interaction of individuals and technology within society.
As scientists, it is probably easiest for us to confine our attention to
what we've been trained to do: designing experiments and
publishing results. However, we also have the opportunity and the
responsibility to get involved in science policy and help government
officials in making the decisions that will define the way science is
conducted. But what about taking this involvement a step further
and making a career as a science policy advisor?
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