The
March for Science started with a few scientists on social media who
felt their community was threatened under the Trump administration. Now,
thousands of people are expected to demonstrate in Washington and in
smaller events around the world on Saturday, which is also Earth Day. Here’s what you should know about the event.
Why are they marching?
Scientists,
science advocates and science enthusiasts say they are marching
together to support, defend and celebrate the scientific enterprise. For
some, it’s a way to voice their opposition to what they see as an
alarming trend against evidence-based policy making in the government.
For others, it’s a way to push back against cuts in President Trump’s
proposed budgets for federal agencies that fund scientific research. It
is also a way for some to show their appreciation for the scientists who
have made important contributions to technological and medical
advancements.
Click and drag your mouse to explore.
Meet Three Scientists Ready to March
Shadow three scientists as they work
with wolves and butterflies, DNA and tide pools before they attend one
of the March for Science demonstrations around the country.
By KAITLYN MULLIN, GUGLIELMO MATTIOLI and LOGAN
JAFFE on Publish Date April 22, 2017.
Photo by Benjamin Norman for The New York Times. Technology by Samsung..
Watch in Times Video »
Where and when are people marching?
The March for Science’s main event will take place in Washington, but there will be more than 600 satellite events
in over 60 countries. In addition to Washington, major turnouts in the
United States are expected in Boston, New York, San Francisco and
Denver.
Marchers in Washington
will first assemble on the north side of the Washington Monument, south
of Constitution Avenue NW between 15th and 17th Streets NW, for a
rally. The grounds open at 8 a.m., with teach-in events taking place
around the Mall beginning at 9 a.m. Speakers will take to the stage,
which faces the White House, around 10 a.m.
At
2 p.m., the march begins. It will start at 15th and Constitution Avenue
NW, proceeding east to Third Street NW, then south to Union Square.
Who is speaking?
The headliners include prominent scientists, science communicators and science advocates such as:
• Lydia Villa-Komaroff,
a molecular biologist who helped produce insulin from bacteria and a
founder of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and
Native Americans.
• Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician whose whistle-blowing helped reveal the water crisis in Flint, Mich.
• Erich Jarvis, a neurobiologist from Rockefeller University.
• Cara Santa Maria, the host of “Talk Nerdy.”
• Bill Nye, the Science Guy.
Co-hosting the event will be Derek Muller, the creator of the popular science YouTube channel Veritasium, and Questlove, a founding member of the band the Roots and a science enthusiast.
How can I follow the march from home?
We’ll be live-streaming the afternoon rally on The New York Times’s Science Facebook page and will provide coverage of the march using Facebook Live.
Why are some in the sciences opposed to the march?
A number of scientists worry that the march will further politicize
science. Although the organizers stress that the march is nonpartisan,
some scientists interpret it as a left-leaning movement that could
isolate or upset conservatives and supporters of Mr. Trump and divide
the public.
Others
are sitting out because they think the march has not done enough to
address issues of diversity, inclusion and accessibility within science.
Though the organizers have put forth several statements and principles
regarding diversity, some critics have said their efforts have fallen
flat.
What is Earth Day?
Earth
Day is a global celebration of the planet held every year on April 22.
The event was first organized in 1970 as a way to bring awareness to
pollution’s effects on the environment and to public health. It is now
run by the Earth Day Network, which has partnered with the March for
Science to promote the importance of science around the world.
What events are happening alongside the march?
The March for Science and the Earth Day Network are organizing a series of teach-ins
that will be interactive science lessons for the public. They are being
held in tents along the Mall from 9 a.m. until 12:20 p.m. Most of the
sessions will last 50 minutes. Topics will include how to save the bees
and the physics of superheros.
What happens after the march?
After Saturday’s events, organizers are promoting a “Week of Action”
from April 23 to 29. Marchers are being encouraged to register to vote,
sign an environmental voter pledge and participate in citizen science
projects in their communities.
On Saturday, April 29, the People’s Climate March will take place in Washington and other cities.
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