I was trying to decide which session to attend when John Wei, a physicist from the University of Toronto, shanghaied me onto a bus headed for DC.

I found myself among eminent scientists on a mission. We were going to Congress and our aim was to convince US politicians that physics deserves more financial support.

How? Well, when we arrived at the venue, people were busy setting up fun physics demonstrations, from levitating magnets to balls that look like rubber but go thud instead of bouncing. Other displays used liquid nitrogen to cool superconductors, freeze flowers or shrink balloons. (A lot of work must have gone into organising this event. You don’t just drive up to the loading bay at Congress with tanks of liquid nitrogen!)

It was my first visit to the Capitol and I was looking forward to meeting some politicians. But I had trouble finding any. I went up to two men in uniform, who turned out to be physicists from the Naval Academy. Two others in suits were astronomers from the Naval Observatory.

Later, someone pointed out some House representatives, busy playing with the exhibits at the National Institute of Standards and Technology stand. They were laughing and enjoying themselves! Then we were treated to speeches from only two PhD physicists in Congress, Vernon Ehlers and Rush Holt.

They said that more scientists should be involved in politics. They’re right. We need to stand up for science education. One trip to Congress is probably not enough, but it’s a good start.

[Posted on behalf of May Chiao, Nature Physics ]