Ever since Donald Trump took office again a year ago, the masses who have noticed his administration’s cruelty and corruption have been asking ourselves, “what should we be doing in response?”
Some people are making signs for public display. Some are marching in the streets. Some are writing to their elected officials. Some are posting their perspectives on social media. Some are filming evidence of ICE shooting innocent people. Some are donating to humanitarian organizations. Some are personally befriending at-risk individuals and families.
All of these things can be fine, or much better than fine (generous! brave!), depending on the circumstances and the details. So what am I personally doing?
More thinking than acting so far, I’m afraid.
Among other excuses and rationalizations, I feel pulled in different directions by two competing propositions: (A) each of us should apply our own unique resources to the problem at hand, and (B) those of us who are relatively privileged should leave our comfort zones (where our resources usually reside) and take risks to aid those who are more vulnerable than us.
One thing I am doing — which might or might not count as an act of resistance — is reviewing grant proposals for the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Like many other things, science research and education are being undermined by the current administration, with the following change to NSF policies being just one small example. (Note the explicit purging of inclusivity as a key scientific value.)
There are many brilliant scientists still working at NSF, and many other brilliant scientists doing NSF-sponsored research. Perhaps by reviewing proposals, I’m at least slightly facilitating the continuation of this good, important work amidst the chaos.
It does not feel like a complete or adequate response to the moment, but it does feel like something.
My Track Record 
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