Dealing with Bureaucracy

I called another scientist at the EPA this morning. She said, "It's not her job. Her lab works with pesticides." "I don't have the authority to talk about the spill." "There's an EPA administrator at the spill now." This conversation took place in EPA's Dept of Microbiology where news of microbes can help in cleaning oil and toxins. She was familiar with it, but her lab works with pesticides.

If it's not a scientist's job to do whatever can be done to clean the spill, whose is it?

If she doesn't have the authority, who does? We spoke heart-to-heart about our sharing the same planet. She too was concerned for her children but felt her hands were tied in that Management wouldn't authorize her to work outside her capacity.

I suggested she place as much pressure on Management as possible to work on the spill. It is our/their number 1 priority. I/we should expect that from our Environmental Agency. I also suggested her reaching out to fellow colleagues by making one phone call today and urging whatever can be done, focusing on the spill. Let's pray she does.

I asked her for someone in Management to talk to. She gave me her Administrator's number. Will let you know how that goes.