Politics in Science? Surely We’re Not as Bad as Congress…

These days, it’s hard to ignore Washington.  With increasingly partisan bickering and near record low congressional approval ratings, it’s clear to see how politics in the workplace (especially when it’s politics itself!) can affect job performance.  But as a career, how does science rate- are internal politics preventing real progress?

Like most other professions, the performance of a scientist should be evaluated based on merit and accomplishments.  However, anytime our fate rests in the hands of our “peers,” it’s easy to see how things could get complicated (read as “unfair and political”…).  Processes like manuscript, grant and tenure review are often judged on more than scientific merit, whether openly admitted or not.  Given the critical nature of science, there are ample opportunities to mask any overt political motivations – “How can we grant them tenure when they have refused to collaborate with anyone in our own department?” (really thinking: “I’m the star in this department and that’s the way it’s going to stay…”).

So how are we doing as a profession – are politics getting in the way of progress any more than other careers?

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