Marches for Science held across US and world

Protestors+participating+in+the+March+for+Science+in+San+Jose+carry+signs+and+chant+slogans.+Worldwide%2C+610+satellite+marches+were+held+in+addition+to+the+main+march+in+Washington%2C+D.C.

Derek Yen

Protestors participating in the March for Science in San Jose carry signs and chant slogans. Worldwide, 610 satellite marches were held in addition to the main march in Washington, D.C.

by Derek Yen, STEM Editor

Advocates for unfettered science and evidence-based policy took to the streets across the world to participate in the March for Science held today, Earth Day.

The March for Science is a worldwide movement that advocates for evidence-based policies, improved science education, and the free expression of scientific findings.

On the March’s website, it describes itself as a “diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and for political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence based policies in the public interest.” And while the march describes itself as nonpartisan, it also states that it is “explicitly a political movement.”

While the originally planned March for Science took place in Washington, D. C., the Washington march inspired the organization of 610 “satellite marches” across the United States and the world. In the Bay Area alone there were five marches, held in Berkeley, San Francisco, Pacifica, Hayward, and San Jose.

In the satellite march in San Jose, styled as “March for Science Silicon Valley” by its organizers, participants marched from San Jose City Hall to the Plaza de Cesar Chavez to rally and listen to speakers. Those who spoke at the event include Nobel laureate and Stanford University professor of chemistry Dr. William E. Moerner; neuroscientist and actress in “Big Bang Theory” Dr. Mayim Bialik; founder of the nonprofit Black Girls Code Kimberly Bryant; and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren.