Careful what you do – or don’t – vote for

The result of the recent referendum on quotas for immigrants to the alpine country sounded a lot like the usual grumblings of discontent about how Brussels ruins your life by letting foreigners steal your jobs. Usually things like this have little real fall-out. This time however, there was a potentially disastrous impact for science in Switzerland almost immediately. The failure of the Swiss government to sign a free movement deal with Croatia – a direct result of the referendum – suspended talks for Swiss access to Horizon 2020.

Unintended consequences

I’ll bet my last euro that this was not a topic of conversation when Swiss citizens were weighing up how to vote, and it is a massive wake-up call for all of us. The Swiss debate reflects arguments going on in our own countries, and the frankly disgracefully low turn-outs in elections. Voter apathy leaves the floor clear for people with ‘interesting’ views to shout loudly, and as they also tend to be keen voters, they often win. The Brits reading this will recognise the booming call of the swivel-eyed loon as it stalks the marshes of the south, and know the danger out there in the mist. If you are a scientist anywhere in Europe, you need to stand up and fight for the amazing scientific platform that it brings, and do some shouting of your own on why it is essential to vote to protect it. Switzerland has in fact done us a favour before the impending European elections by providing an example of what happens when you can’t be bothered to vote, think that a sensible result must come anyway, or that results won’t affect you. European science has already been hit by the repercussions of the Swiss referendum, years before the idiots that drove the yes campaign manage to implement quotas of any description. I want you to promise me now that you will start telling people how the science they need to save their lives, reduce pollution, grow their food and drive their economies (and cars) is delivered by international partnerships – a benefit that greatly outweighs a perceived blight upon their lives from people with different accents who might need to go to the doctor once in a while.

Every voice of reason counts

I also want you to promise that you will cast your vote in the European elections in May. It is time for scientists to rule the world, we can’t trust anybody else to do it. As the great popular music combo Faithless would say, "inaction is a weapon of mass destruction". So head for the polls, my fearless warriors, and let the world hear our voice.