Commenting on the article: Do Scientists Make Good Presidents? How five national leaders performed

An interesting article in Nature Journal caught my attention; it discusses Science and Politics together. This report starts talking about a physicist and environmental engineer female as Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who is the first female president of Mexico. Plus, it gives a review of more 5 scientist political leaders, they are: Herbert Hoover, US president (1929–33); Margaret Thatcher, UK prime minister (1979–90); A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, president of India (2002–07); Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany (2005–21); and Yukio Hatoyama, prime minister of Japan (2009–10).

Experts evaluated the performance of political scientists and whether it benefited science. 

In conclusion, is possible to observe that:

“Scientists who have succeeded in leading their countries tend to think first and foremost like politicians”.

“Science is not the be-all and end-all in politics.”

These reflections are relevant for Sheinbaum Pardo as she navigates her new role. Her challenge will be to balance her scientific expertise with the political acumen required to govern effectively. By integrating scientific insights with political pragmatism, she has the potential to lead Mexico toward a future where both science and democracy thrive.

For more details, you can read the full article here: Do Scientists Make Good Presidents? How Five National Leaders Performed, or access the DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-01693-2.