3. Overview
• About SEA
• A Brief Biography
• Common Excuses for Not
Entering PoliAcs
• The Need for ScienAsts &
Engineers to Serve as Policy
Makers
• PoliAcal Strength of the
Science & Engineering
Community
• How to Run for Office
• SEA Can Help…sort of
• Conclusion
4. About SEA
• SEA’s mission is to promote
evidence‐based decision
making at all levels of
government.
• Key Programs:
– Campaign Training &
EducaAon
– SHARP
– RedistricAng
– Student Programs
• Led by an accomplished
Board of Directors &
Advisors
5. About Camron Gorguinpour
• B.A. Physics & Astrophysics, UC
Berkeley
• PhD Bioengineering, UC
Berkeley [as of May 2010]
• Created and managed one
nonprofit and two public
charter schools prior to joining
SEA
• Designed & taught Introduc:on
to Bioastronau:cs course at UC
Berkeley
• Worked on poliAcal campaigns
in six states, including as a
Campaign Manager for a House
of Delegates race in Virginia
7. The Need for Scien@sts & Engineers to
Serve as Policy Makers
• ScienAsts & engineers
are uniquely qualified to
serve in elected office:
• Technical Knowledge
Base
• Problem Solving Skills
• A few examples
• PoliAcizaAon of key
science & engineering
policy issues
• Impact on America’s
economy
8. Poli@cal Strength of the Science &
Engineering Community
• In general, scienAsts
and engineers make
ideal poliAcal
candidates.
• Strong Public Trust
• The Public Values
ScienAsts & Engineers
• Strong organizaAonal
skills and raAonal
decision making
9. Public Values Science & Engineering
Public’s Percep@on that Science’s Effects on Society are:
Mostly Posi@ve 84%
Mostly Nega@ve 6%
Other/Don’t Know 10%
Pew/AAAS 2009
Public’s Percep@on of Professions that Contribute “a lot” to society:
Military Members 84%
Teachers 77%
Scien@sts 70%
Medical Doctors 69%
Engineers 64%
Clergy 40%
Journalists 38%
Ar@sts 31%
Lawyers 23%
Business Execu@ves 21%
Pew/AAAS 2009
10. Public Values Science & Engineering
Types of People the Public Most Trusts Types of People the Public Least Trusts
to Generally Tell the Truth: to Generally Tell the Truth:
Doctors 85% Opinion Pollsters 34%
Teachers 83% Trade Union Leaders 30%
Scien@sts 77% Stockbrokers 29%
Police Officers 76% Lawyers 27%
Professors 75% Actors 26%
Harris 2006 (Par@al List) Harris 2006 (Par@al List)
11. How to Run for Office
• Technical & legal details of
running for office vary from state‐
to‐state:
• Check with your local Registrar of Voters or
State Board of ElecAons
• What office to run for?
• Time
• Money
• ExisAng network of supporters
• Interests
• When is the “right Ame” to run?
12. Elements of a Poli@cal Campaign
• Research
• Who are you running against?
• What are the key issues facing your district?
• Data Analysis
• How many votes do you need to win?
• Who is most likely to vote?
• Policy Placorm
• What is your posiAon on issues that voters are
concerned about?
13. Elements of a Poli@cal Campaign
• Messaging
• How do we present your placorm in a clear and
concise manner?
• What can we say about your opponent’s policies and
perspecAves?
• Direct Voter Contact
• Knock on doors and make phone calls
• Paid, Earned, and “New” Media
• Where do people in your district get their
informaAon?
• How can we get your message out to the press?
14. Elements of a Poli@cal Campaign
• Fundraising
• Create a budget
• Make a lot of phone calls
• Staff, Consultants, and Volunteers
• If you need a staff, get a good campaign manager.
• Many people will find good ways to use your hard
earned money.
• Volunteers are essenAal for most campaigns.
15. SEA Can Help…sort of
• As a 501c‐3 nonprofit
organizaAon, SEA is limited in
how it can directly support
specific candidates.
• However, SEA makes a variety
of resources available to all
individuals who are interested
in learning the nuts‐and‐bolts
of poliAcal campaigns.
• Services Include:
• Live & Online Training Sessions
• Campaign Curriculum
• “Ask an Expert” Service Online
16. Conclusion
• America needs more
scienAsts & engineers in
elected office.
• ScienAsts & engineers
make for highly
qualified and appealing
poliAcal candidates.
• Most of the basic
informaAon you need is
available through SEA.
