It was clear by 8:05 pm: Barack Obama was to be President. Our cottage erupted in joy, for a the first time it seemed that something went right in national politics in eight years.
This is an opportunity not to be wasted. Fellow scientists, this is our chance to showcase the important of science to a new government, a government that may be more open to the importance of science to the nation than any Congress in the past 8 years. We have a duty: to educate this President and this Congress, to seek their assistance in the cause of science, and to offer our assistance as honest brokers of policy alternatives whenever we can.
Write letter, make phone calls, and travel to Washington. The next six months may be the most important in the next four years.
