March For Science

Besides celebrating Earth Day, millions of people around the world will join the March For Science on March 22nd. Locally, there are stationary marches planned in Boston, Providence, Worcester, Amherst, and other locations.

Needless to say, our scientists, lab technicians, and science writers are excited for the day. What exactly is the March For Science, you ask? Simply put, it is a celebration of science, and it’s importance in our lives. Here’s a bit of the mission statement, from the March For Science website.

The March for Science champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and for political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence based policies in the public interest.

Besides advocating for and celebrating science in general, one of the goals of this worldwide event is to ensure that science remain politically nonpartisan. With the advent of the Trump presidency, many in the scientific community have expressed concern about the administration’s views on science, their proposed policy changes, and how they would undermine the integrity of the scientific process. Here’s a resounding bit from their website:

People who value science have remained silent for far too long in the face of policies that ignore scientific evidence and endanger both human life and the future of our world. New policies threaten to further restrict scientists’ ability to research and communicate their findings.  We face a possible future where people not only ignore scientific evidence, but seek to eliminate it entirely.  Staying silent is a luxury that we can no longer afford.  We must stand together and support science.

We’re planning to do just that. Are you planning on joining us in marching for science? If so, let  us know where you’ll be participating, and be sure to snap some photos!