Which scientist would you like to see become president/prime minister/chancellor?

Neil Degrasse Tyson. Why? I don’t know. He’s smart, seems like a nice guy, and has a way of explaining complex subjects in a way that even people like I can understand.

Brian Greene…bring on the “or else!” :P

I think that people who have dedicated their life to governing should be in charge of governments and people who have dedicated their lives to science should be in charge of science. I hate this recent trend to want someone with no experience in Government to govern. Would I want someone with no experience in medicine doing my surgery?

Stephen Hawking, because it would be fucking hilarious.

I was also going to say Neil Tyson also, he is facile at explaining complex issues for the masses. I think Michael Pollan would be good, although he is not a scientist but a journalist. But he is a polymath.

If it has to be someone with a doctorate, then my choice would be either Doom, Octopus, or Who. ;-)

Another vote for Neil, with Dawkins as VP.

American presidents can only do two terms, right?
Otherwise George Bush Jr. could be a candidate.

@Brian1946 you forgot No and Strangelove

I thought of Tyson immediately as well.

Has America ever had a scientist as president? I don’t remember any. Does it happen more in other countries? I’m a bit worried now that my attention’s been drawn to the lack of scientific presence in our governing bodies.

Dawkins is a Brit…. as is Hawking….. More is the pitty.

Ron D Pearson, and let’s end philosophical censorship in the media.

My best friend. He’s a chemist on a research team in Boston looking for a cure for Malaria and AIDS. He’s a gay feminist liberal atheist who has no problem with religion.

For the most part, though, I agree with @Judi.

@fundevogel Thomas Jefferson, like many of the Founding Fathers, was highly interested in science. Teddy Roosevelt was an accomplished amateur naturalist from the time he was a young boy he published several books on the natural world, including one about bird’s flight patterns when he was just a child.

As for my answer, Bill Nye the Science Guy, 2012. Because he’s smart and shit.

@Fiddle_Playing_Creole_Bastard We need more of that these days.

Professor Peter Higgs as he lives in Edinburgh and has discovered at least theoretically an important new particle. He was also a member of Greenpeace and the CND.

@flutherother And a good friend of Liza Doolittlen as I recall.

Seeing as how we are naming Brits and considering PM’s and the like, I would LOVE to see Prof. Brian Cox in a position of power. I love his accent and how he talks about science and the nutters that send him emails. If you don’t follow his twitter or facebook, I highly recommend it.

@cazzie Err, those were clearly stipulated as viable options in the question.

Yeah, I know, that’s what I meant…...@ucme for once, a less American-centric question.

Dr. Jean Houston

She’s worked in over 100 countries, and extensively in 40 cultures. She’s met Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, and lived with Margret Meade. She’s a teacher and an anthropologist, as well as many other things. She works with the UN bringing the genius of solutions from one culture, to aid in the problems of another. To top it all off, she’s the most powerful and articulate speakers I’ve EVER heard.

Look her up, she’s pretty amazing.

I don’t know if I would call Dr. Jean Houston a scientist. Interesting person, but she has a BA, not a BSc and her doctoral degree is in Theology.

Fair enough… I might have been stretching the “scientist” angle with her a little. But she does do lots of research in human capacity. Regardless, I like the way she thinks, and I trust her to be honest and open.