ASCB Marches: After the dust settles

On April 22, more than 1 million scientists and science advocates gathered in 610 cities around the world to call for more evidence-based decision making, support for scientific research and education, and respect for unbiased expert analyses. ASCB members similarly showed up in force to voice their support for science. Now, one month later, we reflect on what the March for Science achieved and what can be done to sustain and unify this new coalition of science advocates.

Voices at the March for Science

Manu Prakash, professor of Bioengineering at Stanford, is an ASCB member who spoke at the Washington, DC, march. Prakash urged attendees, “As we march today to celebrate science, let’s promise each other to make science more accessible to everyone… Let’s make scientific literacy a human right.” His full speech can be viewed here.

Washington, DC, keynote speaker Bill Nye also called for an expansion of scientific literacy in the United States for our health and prosperity. He highlighted Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution in which the founding fathers granted the federal government power “to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts.” Echoing Prakash’s message, Nye reminded us, “Without scientifically literate citizens the United States — any country, in fact — cannot compete on the world stage.” His full speech can be viewed here.

On the other side of the country in San Francisco, to a crowd of 50,000 science supporters, former Mythbusters co-host and editor of Tested.com, Adam Savage began, “Seriously, I can’t believe we have to come out.” He defined science as “the systematic reduction of ignorance” and declared, “The enemy of science is bias.” His full speech can be viewed here.

The largest international March for Science took place in Berlin, drawing a crowd of 11,000 people. There, Mayor of Berlin Michael Müller spoke about the necessity of a scientific enterprise independent from political ideology. He pronounced, “[Translation] We are resolutely opposed to all those who endanger the freedom [of science] . . . We Berliners know from our history what the suppression of freedom means, and what it means when people are deprived of their rights of citizenship and liberty. Never again will we allow this to happen.”

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Political response

Many attendees were motivated to march because of President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to scientific agencies. After the budget for the remainder of 2017 was decided by Congress, largely rejecting the proposed cuts, the March for Science organizers released a statement saying, “that the Congress has listened to advocates for science—like those who participated in the march.”

Lawmakers’ support for the March can be seen across social media platforms, including Twitter. Both Democrats and Republicans voiced their support. According to Tweet Congress, 336 members of Congress tweeted about the March for Science, including 160 Republicans and 176 Democrats.

In a press release responding to the March for Science, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology wrote, “Opening new frontiers of scientific knowledge, on Earth and beyond, will pave the way to a better, more secure future for the next generation.  I will continue to support scientific research that furthers our national interest and is of the highest intellectual merit.”

Despite the relative success of science advocates having influenced the FY17 budget, the real challenge for continued robust science funding is approaching as Congress decides the FY18 budget. We hope the unprecedented level of science advocacy seen in the last month continues to have a tangible effect on lawmakers.

What we’ve learned

Taking cues from the success of the March for Science and advocacy techniques tested by the Indivisible Movement, scientists are learning that national advocacy campaigns targeting local district offices are highly effective at connecting lawmakers with their constituents.

ASCB Public Policy Director Kevin Wilson explained, “I want to get more of a personal connection at a district office. That’s the big change that I’m making. I want to change the focus of where the letters are sent.”

Currently, ASCB is recommending that members send a letter to Congress regarding the FY18 budget and has drafted a sample constituent letter you can find here. To find contact information for the elected officials who represent you, search by inputting your address here.

For international scientists, it is important to realize that representatives and senators represent everyone residing within their districts, regardless of citizenship status. You may write, call, or speak to your representative or the members of their staff in person if you wish. Please see our earlier article on this topic for more information.

As always, opportunities to participate in ASCB-sponsored science advocacy will be posted at https://www.ascb.org/advocacy/. ASCB also keeps its members updated about science policy and advocacy via email alerts. Please take the time to check your email preferences and opt-in to the Advocacy email list.

Final words

In response to the March for Science, former ASCB president Peter Walter offered these words: “Stay optimistic. Stay engaged. Make connections. Stay involved in science education. The increase of knowledge is of incredible value to humankind. I know you probably have better things to do, but I deeply appreciate the support for science ASCB members have shown. Thank you.”

We hope the unprecedented level of science advocacy seen in the last month continues to have a tangible effect on lawmakers, despite the cuts to scientific agencies proposed in President Trump’s final FY18 budget released this week.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the views of the author(s) and do not represent the official policy or position of ASCB.

About the Author:


Kate Carbone is a Ph.D. student in Ron Vale’s lab at University of California, San Francisco investigating the spatial organization of T cell signaling. Kate co-organized the ‘Bay Area Meeting for Lymphocyte Cell Biology’ in Oct 2015, and has been a COMPASS member since Jan 2017. She can be reached via email (catherine.carbone@ucsf.edu) or Twitter (@mKate)