Marchers show support for science
CITY EVENT ONE OF MANY BEING STAGED
Asmall, but passionate group of people showed up at the University of Lethbridge Saturday afternoon to show their solidarity with others worldwide marking the International March for Science day.
“We are one of 240 events happening internationally,” said Lethbridge march organizer Stephanie Watson. “It’s important because we really need to get the public engaged with science again. And have them realize it is not this big, scary term that is only for people who have PhDs. There are a lot of different types of science and a lot of people who play their part in science, and it really benefits society a lot as a whole.”
While there was a political undertone to the gathering in Lethbridge, Watson said local organizers took pains to ensure that undertone did not undercut the March for Science’s central message. “This march is political in that we want science-based decision-making, but it is not partisan,” Watson stressed. “Science has been undercut in this current political environment around the world. In Canada we are starting to rebuild science-based decisionmaking, which is great to see. But we still have a long ways to go, and we need to have more funding directed into the sciences and more public engagement. We definitely need to have our scientists trained to engage with the public so the public understands the importance of the science being done as well.”
Those who came out for the event also held up a sign made from hockey sticks showing their solidarity with the family and friends of deceased Humboldt Bronco Logan Boulet, whose funeral was being held nearby at roughly the same time.
“This is an internationally determined day for the March for Science, and we have been planning this event since last year,” explained Watson. “But we felt it was also important to show our solidarity with the Humboldt Broncos while we are here today as well.”