"March for Science" to rally for end of science censorship

By Julia Berkman
In a time of fake news and science deniers, the March for Science hopes to challenge anti-data sentiment through protest. Their mission statement is thus:
“The March for Science is a celebration of our passion for science and a call to support and safeguard the scientific community. 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.”
One of the March on Science’s featured speakers is Captain Wendy Lawrence. After flying multiple helicopter missions with the Navy, Lawrence was selected to be a part of four NASA shuttle missions, and has logged 50 days in space! Lawrence now works at a space camp and travels the country discussing space and promoting STEM education for all young students.
Another Bellingham staple speaking at the event is Dr. Melissa Rice, who is one of the participating scientists of the newest Mars rover missions. Last month, the AS Review wrote about her impressive work in the Mars missions, as well as her ongoing collection of data on the red giant.
Finally, Sonni Tadlock, a descendant of the Okanogan band of the Colville Tribe, will be speaking about her work as a liaison with indigenous communities in the Salish Sea area. Tadlock has developed nutritional educational plans based on her BS concentration in Indigenous food systems. Her plans have been distributed to Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in an effort to preserve traditional diet and nutrition for native populations in the US.
The March for Science will be kicking off at Bellingham City Hall on April 22. People will begin to gather there at noon, the speakers will present starting at 12:30 p.m. and the march will begin at 1 p.m. It’s a mile long, but the route won’t be released until the day-of, much like the Women’s March back in January. After the conclusion of the march, stick around on the lawn of the Bellingham Public Library for an interactive fair with science demos, food trucks and fun. You can find more information on the Facebook event or at http://sciencemarchbellingham.com.
Featured image: Microscopes and other scientific equipment on display in the Environmental Science building. Photo by Ricky Rath // AS Review.