The future for US science lies with today’s generation of early-career researchers. Earlier this year, Physics World caught up with delegates at ComSciCon 2017 – a national workshop on science communication – to learn about their career hopes and the challenges they face in chasing those dreams. We also get their thoughts on a range of issues relating to science communication, diversity in science and the role scientists can play in the current political climate in the US.
Each day this week, we will be publishing a couple of new video interviews from that series. The first interview is with Grayson Doucette, a PhD student in materials science at Pennsylvania State University. Grayson is particularly interested in building bridges between science and public policy. He believes that scientists have a responsibility to ensure that their science reaches the public and he has practical advice on how scientists can influence policy-makers.
Our second interview is with Khady Sall, a PhD student in molecular biology at Oregon State University. Originally from Senegal, Khady is keen to return to Africa in the future to apply her work to some of the most pressing environmental challenges relating to climate change, such as developing drought-resistant crops. She also speaks about her experiences in the US, where she loves the level of independence given to postgraduate researchers, but she has faced challenges along the way.
To hear more voices on the state of science in the US, take a look at the free-to-read Physics World special report on physics in the US. Share your thoughts on the current state of physics in the US by posting a comment below or joining the conversation on Twitter including our handle @PhysicsWorld.
