Congressman Tom Udall addressed a group of future scientists about their role in policy- making Monday.
"When I look at the world as it is today and where it's headed, science plays a much more important role than it ever has before," he said to a crowd of about 50 in Castetter Hall.
Udall, a Democrat who represents the 3rd Congressional District in New Mexico, said the biggest challenge legislators have in Washington is gathering scientific input.
"We need to have scientists out there in order to inform the debates that go on," he said.
The lack of credible scientific input is frustrating, he said, especially if certain legislation is being pushed on the House floor.
"Science rarely sets the agenda in Congress," he said.
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He used the federal and independent research of mercury in fresh water as an example of why it is important for scientists to connect with Congress on issues.
He said 48 states have warnings against pregnant women and children eating fish caught in fresh water, yet the federal government reports there is no proof of mercury causing harm.
"We need the scientists to report what is known," he said.
Sam Loker, chairman of the Biology Department, said Udall is progressive in his thinking regarding the environment.
"He's been involved in several kinds of issues that people in our department care a great deal about including management of water resources, energy development, protection of civil liberties and also the interface between science and policy," Loker said.
Udall urged attendees to dedicate a portion of their scientific careers to public policy-making and gave advice on how to get their expertise heard in congressional committees.
He said lobbying involves getting facts straight and presenting ideas in a persuasive manner without being misleading.
"They're listened to," Udall said. "Not instantly, but it moves debate along."
Udall was invited to UNM by the Integrative Graduate Education Research and Training Freshwater Sciences group. The group's goal is to improve communication between scientists, policy-makers and the media, said Jennifer Follstad-Shah, a graduate student in the biology department. She is also a member of the group that helped coordinate Udall's visit.
Follstad-Shah said the talk was a part of a semester-long series of speeches by science writers, photojournalists, environmental lawyers and nonprofit organizations.
She said Udall was invited to be a speaker in the series to give a different perspective on the relationship between policy-makers and the scientific community.
A hot topic is Terri Schiavo, a woman who has been in a vegetative state for 15 years. Congress passed a law allowing for her specific case to be heard in federal court. One woman in the room asked Udall where he stands on the issue and why Congress ignored medical experts in their debates.
"I would have voted against the bill," he said. "It had to do with morality and religion, which has an enormous amount of emotion in it."
Congress was on vacation at the time of the vote. Many representatives were called in to vote at the last minute. Udall was unable to make it, he said.
Udall said Congress misjudged the issue, and it backfired on them.
"I thought it was very unfortunate what they did," he said. "They all have mud on their faces now."
Most representatives have scientists on staff, Udall said, including himself. He said this is important for research and lobbying, and more House members should reach out to scientists.
But it's a two-way street, he said.
"Many of you, when you reach out, you may feel rejected," Udall said.
Udall said not to take it personally.
"Eventually we're going to get it," he said.
