Okay, quick test. Are humans driving climate change? Should government science agencies be free to report facts? Is the “global gag” rule a really, really, really bad idea?
If you answered yes to all of the above, then we’ve got the event for you. In protest of some of the rather, um, interesting decisions from the Trump administration, the March for Science movement was born, and it has now been confirmed that it'll be taking place on April 22 this year, which also happens to be Earth Day.
The idea for the march began rather innocuously from a user called /u/beaverteeth92 on Reddit two weeks ago. Since then, the march has grown in popularity, with support coming from all corners of the scientific community. The plan is to march on Washington DC, although satellite marches are also being planned in other locations around the world.
You can sign up to be a volunteer on their website or help organize an event in your own location, while the march has its own subreddit. You can also show your support for the movement on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and they are accepting donations to help fund the event.
In a statement, March for Science said more than 40,000 volunteers had signed up online
“The March for Science is a celebration of our passion for science and a call to support and safeguard the scientific community,” the group's website states. “Recent policy changes have caused heightened worry among scientists, and the incredible and immediate outpouring of support has made clear that these concerns are also shared by hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
“It is time for people who support scientific research and evidence-based policies to take a public stand and be counted.”
The march in Washington DC will culminate at the Washington Mall, with both main stage speakers and "teach-in" tents with scientists from a diverse range of fields.
"It was undeniably inspired by recent policy changes in the US, but the incredible and immediate outpouring of support has made clear that hundreds of thousands of people around the world share our concerns about the threats to the scientific community," said Caroline Weinberg, one of the organizers, in a statement.
As mentioned, the event will be taking place on Earth Day on April 22. Earth Day is an annual event where people show their support for environmental protection, being held for the first time back in 1970, although this year it looks like it'll have a broader meaning.
So, if you’re serious about science, get involved with the March for Science. If you want to help ensure evidence-based research is not thrown by the wayside in this day and age of alternative facts or that funding for scientific institutions isn’t cut on a whim, then make your voice heard.
