A Physicist Runs for Congress

Speaker: George Gollin, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

When: November 12, 2013 (Tue), 03:30PM to 04:30PM (add to my calendar)
Location: SCI 109
Hosted by: David Campbell, Lawrence Sulak
View the poster for this event.

This event is part of the Physics Department Colloquia Series.

Abstract: In the time before John Boehner and the Tea Party, members of Congress would put country before party and compromise, crafting solutions to the challenges we faced. There were problems--of poverty, prejudice, and more--but it always seemed possible to make forward progress.

Alas, it is no longer this way: Congress appears to work only for itself, and does not listen to those of us outside the Beltway. Changing this will require us to engage with the political system and hold it accountable. We must restore our country’s ability to govern.

One way to do this is to stand for election to the United States House of Representatives, as I am doing. At the moment 227 members of Congress were trained as attorneys; if successful, I will be the third member who is a physicist.

I will describe why I have undertaken this daunting task, and what the experience has been like so far.