Democratic Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed explains how science influences his politics
Scientific American spoke to the Michigan Senate candidate about how his background in medicine has shaped his outlook
Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for Michigan's Senate seat, has spoken about how his background in medicine and public health has shaped his political views. Speaking to Scientific American, he explained that his doctoral thesis in systems epidemiology has instilled a rigorous approach to problem-solving, which he applies to policy-making.
El-Sayed believes that science helps construct hypotheses about the world, test them, and develop evidence-based interventions. He emphasized that while science is often descriptive, it is equally prescriptive, as researchers seek to design solutions based on their findings. El-Sayed stressed that understanding the system and addressing both its underlying issues and acute symptoms is crucial to improving people's lives.
He highlighted the need for systemic changes, such as transitioning to renewable energy sources and addressing systemic inequality, to ensure healthier lives for all Americans.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
