In Washington, many protesters refused to publicly share their names for similar reasons. A woman wearing a surgical mask and a long, white workshop with the words “crazy scientist” on the back in red letters, describes herself only as a federally funded researcher “trying to keep things going in these difficult times.” Its field was planetary science, hence its sign: “Good luck to Mars without science”.
Elsewhere, three young women, all students, stood with a sign read “Science is apolitical”. Someone said, “I didn’t tell my parents that I am here”, and everyone was laughing. He added, “I should be at home to do my research. But I can’t, because we could overcome. It should not be political, but because they do so, we don’t have an option.”
The speech continued in the afternoon. Bill Nye, the scientist. Fred Upton, a former Republican spokesman from Michigan. Spokesman Bill Foster, Democratic of Illinois and the only Ph.D. Physicist in Congress. (“It’s not just the science that is under attack, it’s events,” said Dr. Allison Agwu, an infectious supply specialist at Johns Hopkins University. Denali Kincaid, a doctoral student in geochemistry and a communication tiktok. They reminded the public (unnecessary, admitted) for the value of scientific expertise: to make vaccines, precise weather forecasts, agricultural discoveries. to monitor 150 active volcanic systems only in the United States.
From the sidelines, Mary Doyle, a retired public health researcher, mourned the depth and seemingly indiscriminate nature of work cuts and funding. The whole university departments are going to leave because they are so dependent on federal funding, “he said. Her husband, Scott Nainis, an engineer, said: “We saw a sign saying:” Science is better done with scalpels and microscopes, not chainsaws. “
Both had attended March 2017. This felt different. “It’s a darker mood,” said Ms Doyle.
