The current Trump administration has made it very clear that science, climate change, and environmentalism are not at the forefront of politics. Jess Phoenix, a volcanologist, has decided to take matters into her own hands. She is running for California's 25 districts congressional seat in the upcoming mid-terms in hopes of bringing science back into politics. “If I can get people to understand the difference between weather and climate," Phoenix said. "Then we could solve a lot of problems we’re faced with right now."
An epiphany
Shortly after turning 35, Phoenix realized that she was eligible to run for office in California.
With plenty of experience speaking publicly both nationally and internationally, she feels that she has the qualifications to hold a public office. She believes the current administration is lacking in logic, sanity, and facts. Making sure that laws and regulations that are good for the Earth are put in place is her main goal.
The volcanologist believes that the dangers of scientific ignorance are very real. “We are in imminent peril,” she said. “When our national parks are at stake when our health is at stake when even our basic scientific literacy is at stake – you just can’t compromise on those types of things. You have to fight.”
One of the first things Trump did after taking office was to begin dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Parks Service (NPS).
H
e effectively issued a gag order which prohibited the NPS from using social media. He then froze all federal funding and grants to the EPA and gagged them as well. The next step was to appoint a new head of the EPA. Trump chose
“When our national parks are at stake when our health is at stake when even our basic scientific literacy is at stake – you just can’t compromise on those types of things. You have to fight.” One of the first things Trump did after taking office was to begin dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Parks Service (NPS). He effectively issued a gag order which prohibited the NPS from using social media. He then froze all federal funding and grants to the EPA and gagged them as well.
The next step was to appoint a new head of the EPA. Trump chose
The next step was to appoint a new head of the EPA. Trump chose Scott Pruitt, a climate change denier and long time enemy of the EPA. With Pruitt at the helm of the department, Trump began dismantling the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Rule. Republicans have expressed hopes that the EPA will be entirely dismantled before Trump's term is over.
Bringing back science
Phoenix and her husband work to bring science into the lives of the average households. They helped to set up Blueprint Earth, a group that collects scientists from all disciplines to understand the complexity of Earth's biomes better.
It also aims to encourage scientific interest in children.
Phoenix believes that science is critical to the survival of mankind. Her platform is focused on clean air and water, less pollution, and a stronger health care system. She is
Phoenix believes that science is critical to the survival of mankind. Her platform is focused on clean air and water, less pollution, and a stronger health care system. She is running as a Democrat in the California mid-terms against Representative Steve Knight.
