Come join us as we host Melissa Varga, Dr. Adrián Rivera-Reyes, and Shaughnessy Naughton, the inaugural panel of our STEMulate the Vote Seminar Series!
Melissa Varga
Melissa Varga is the Science Network community manager and partnerships coordinator with the Center for Science and Democracy at UCS. She manages the online community for the Science Network, a group of nearly 24,000 scientists and technical experts interested in science advocacy, which offers its members resources, training, webinars, and opportunities to get involved in the issues they care about. Prior to joining UCS, Melissa was candidate outreach manager of the Candidate Project at the New Organizing Institute, where she helped train and provide online resources for citizens across the country who were running for local office. She earned an MA in political management from The George Washington University, and BA in English and political science from Marietta College.
Dr. Adrián Rivera-Reyes
Dr. Adrián Rivera-Reyes is a cancer biologist, community organizer, and advocate for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ rights. Dr. Adrián Rivera-Reyes obtained his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology with a concentration in Cancer Biology from the University of Pennsylvania. Adrián is a community leader and serves as a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs. As a Commissioner, Adrián helps to inform the Governor on issues affecting the Latinx community in Philadelphia and to advise on policies and legislation that impact the Latinx community in PA. Adrián is a founding member and organizer of PhillyBoricuas, a grassroots organization that engages and helps to organize the Puerto Rican and Hispanic community in North Philadelphia around issues of justice and equity. In his professional capacity, Adrián has worked at the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute at Penn and as a scientist for Spark Therapeutics. Currently, Adrián is a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship at the United States Agency for International Development.
Shaughnessy Naughton
Shaughnessy Naughton, Founder and President of 314 Action is an entrepreneur with a degree in chemistry from Bryn Mawr College and a passion for understanding the role of science in our everyday lives. With a background in research and drug discovery, Shaughnessy got involved in politics out of concern for the future of science in the United States. In 2014, after running a business for over a decade, she stepped up to run for congress in Pennsylvania’s 8th District. With no prior political experience, other than phoning legislators and knocking on doors for campaigns, she faced an uphill battle, to say the least. Ultimately, Shaughnessy was not successful, but she did receive a tremendous amount of support from the scientific community. Through her campaign, she learned there are not enough people with scientific backgrounds in congress and that we see the effects of that in the attempted politicization of science, mocking of basic research and denial of climate change. This is not just bad for science, it is bad for our country. Shaughnessy founded 314 Action to encourage and unite the scientific community to do more than just advocate for science, and to get involved in the political process. That means run for office, at any level, organize and call on your representatives to stand with science and to make your voices heard. Science is and always should be above politics. But too many politicians are taking on anti-science positions and we need to push back. The best way to do that is to ensure that like-minded, problem-solving engineers and scientists have a seat at the table.
