Trump on Earth Day: ‘Rigorous science is critical to my administration’

“We’re gathered here today to fight for science”, the Washington Post reported science communicator Cara Santa Maria told the crowd gathered April 22 at the March for Science rally in Washington, D.C.

The fact that it’s also Earth Day isn’t a coincidence: protestors turned out to rally behind the need for environmental policy that effectually addresses climate change.

March for Science rallies were held in more than 500 cities around the world, including Los Angeles, New York, Reykjavik, and Rio De Janeiro.

Marcher Jeanne Walton an eighth-grade science teacher at Central York Middle School in York, Pa., said she anxious about the effect of some current political rhetoric on her young students.

Stephanie Gaines, who also participated in the Women’s March in January, says “it’s important to have our voices heard”.

Trump has not yet commented on the protests.

Scientists, students and research advocates are marking Earth Day by conveying a global message about scientific freedom without political interference.

“Show the world that science is for all”.

In Washington, the events featured a morning rally, plus concert, and was to end with a march t the Capitol. CNN reported that scientist at Germany’s Neumayer Station, a research institute in Antarctica braved 27°F temperatures (that’s…not as cold as I’d hope) to express their support for the action.

Huge numbers of pro-science demonstrators took to the streets of Washington, D.C. Satellite marches are taking place throughout the day in cities like New York City, London, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Sao Paulo. Participants carried signs showing images of a double helix and chemical symbols.

Signs around the globe ranged from political ones – “Make America think again”, – to the somewhat nerdy “What Do Want?”

Dr. Jacob Trevnio, Nano-Science researcher at the City University of NY, was among the marchers.

But as Arriola sees it, science has always had a political element to it. “Science helps us inform questions that politicians make decisions on”, he explained.

Nye, who first gained fame for his television show teaching science to children, epitomizes many who attended the March for Science. “We’re just concerned citizens for science”, she said, noting that her goal was to raise awareness of the importance of science education. The movement’s Facebook page has garnered almost 550,000 likes.

So, Earth Day would seem a ideal platform for March for science to propel off of, because of its call for environmental protection, understanding the gravity of global warming, and learning how its inhabitants can create more green jobs, technologies, and outlooks. “We speak up now because all of these values are currently at risk”.

“In fact for every dollar that is spent on science, multiple dollars are added to the economy as a result of the output that is generated, so the funding needs to be protected”, he said.