Gathering for Science Worldwide
March for Science: A Global Rally for Science and Evidence-Based Policymaking
On Earth Day, April 22, 2017, the March for Science took place worldwide, including in Bristol, as a widespread protest advocating for science funding, diversity, and evidence-based government policies.
The event, which was part of the global celebration of science known as the #MarchforScience, took place outside the Science Museum on a Saturday. The demonstration passed by the Royal Society during the march, with participants carrying placards bearing chemical symbols paired with political slogans, emphasizing the importance of science in modern society.
The march was significant in light of the Trump administration's denial of climate change and efforts to restrict scientific communication and data access, particularly concerning environmental policy. The organisers of the event highlighted the importance of science in modern society due to the growth of 'fake news' and the downgrading of scientific objectivity.
The #MarchforScience movement, which started in Washington DC, had spawned over 600 marches worldwide, including Bristol. Nobel laureate Adam Riess, who spoke on Capitol Hill about the importance of continued research funding, was among the prominent figures involved in the movement. Members of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, such as Reps. Don Beyer and Suhas Subramanyam, also played key roles in organizing scientific communities to highlight the impact of funding cuts.
Other notable attendees included comedian and Infinite Monkey Cage presenter Robin Ince, science communicator Helen Czerski, and Jon Butterworth, another science communicator. A blog about the importance of science was written by Roger Highfield, an author and Science Museum executive. Dr Who star Peter Capaldi was also present at the event.
Parallel marches took place in Bristol, in addition to Manchester, Cardiff, and Edinburgh. The chant "What do we want? Evidence-based policy. When do we want it? After peer review" was used during the march, reflecting the marchers' commitment to scientific rigour and evidence-based policymaking.
In summary, the March for Science represented a pivotal moment for public engagement with science, defending the role of scientific evidence in policy during a time of political challenges and funding cuts, with involvement from leading scientists and policymakers worldwide, including events in Bristol.
- In the pursuit of health-and-wellness and mental-health, it's crucial that evidence-based policies are enacted, underscored by the March for Science movement.
- Fostering personal-growth and education-and-self-development, the March for Science advocated for increased funding and diversity in the field of sciences.
- The fusion of fitness-and-exercise and scientific advancements is essential for a healthy society, a point emphasized during the global March for Science rally.
