As Scientists and Citizens

Abstract

Many academics are reluctant to enter policy-making forums. Those who do so are an important and intriguing minority. This study takes a close look at faculty active in advisory mechanisms to government and reveals them to be individuals whose careers include considerable experience outside academia, whose time commitments on c ampus are highly varied, and whose attitudes are supportive of university service to government. Most of the expert advisers also engage in political activities as citizens, and the relationship of participation in these dual modes poses questions for future research.