It's partially that, and partially a fear that if they're seen as doing political advocacy, they won't be taken seriously as scientists anymore. Capitalist culture has done such a good job convincing us--even people who should know better--that physical science and public policy are totally separate magisteria that most scientists are really afraid to step slightly out of their lane.

Thanks for your words. I feel like I do more good in this role too, and I'm a million times happier. My administration lets me get away with a lot because of my credentials too: the student body calls my climatology class CCCC, for communist climate change class.