Work in government was something Jacquelyn Gill, an assistant professor of paleoecology and plant biology at the University of Maine at Orono, thought would happen later in her career — after she got tenure and built a large body of research.
But after President Trump’s administration signaled that it would restrict federal agencies’ communication with the public, sending scientists across the country into a frenzy, Ms. Gill said a campaign for public office may be in the cards for her sooner than she had imagined.
As with many scientists, Ms. Gill’s research depends on grants funded by tax dollars. So she’s made a point of being as transparent as possible about her work. She publishes a blog about her research and is an active Twitter user, looking to engage not just the scientific community, but anyone who’s willing to learn.
