In protest to the Trump administration’s views on climate change, science policy and their continual exclusion of scientific evidence from policy decisions, scientists organised rallies and marches in over 600 cities around the world on April 22nd. Though this event was centred on the United States, the side-lining of scientific evidence and the reduction in science funding for climate change, evolution and general policy making has been a worldwide problem.
Organisers made it clear that this is a non-partisan movement, aimed at celebrating science and its importance in our everyday lives. The stated core principles of the movement are; the promotion of science serving the common good, the establishment of evidence based policy and regulations in the public interest, improved science education, diversity and inclusion in STEM subjects, government transparency on scientific findings, inclusive public outreach and finally fair amounts of funding for scientific research.
The Marches have been used to highlight these issues as well as to humanise science, showing those who work in it are as human as the rest of us. Science is not just some abstract process that occurs independent of culture and community.
This week has seen the organisers of March for Science encourage those who took part to have a “Week of Action” with daily activities to serve the group’s mission and turn the momentum into a global movement.
Hooray for science.
Sam McMaster
Science Editor
(Image courtesy of qz.com)