Thousands join march in capital to celebrate science

Fears research is under threat

Reporter THOUSANDS of people joined a celebration of scientific endeavour amid fears research is under threat from a post-truth age and Brexit.

Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi joined physicists, astronomers and biologists at the March for Science as it paraded past London’s most celebrated research institutions.

Leading figures warned Britain’s upcoming split from the continent could compromise their work by stifling collaboration with European colleagues.

Organisers said 12,000 people joined the London event, as hundreds of similar protests took place around the globe, from Australia to the US.

Concerns that rhetoric threatened research flared in the UK last summer, when former cabinet minister Michael Gove claimed that the public “have had enough of experts”.

Campaigners said the spectre of fake news made it crucial to highlight “the vital role that science plays in each of our lives and the need to respect and encourage research that gives us insight into the world”.

After trooping to Parliament Square, past buildings of scientific research such as the Royal Society, the London rally ended with speeches and a rendition of Monty Python’s Galaxy Song.

Physicist and broadcaster Dr Helen Czerski told the Press Association: “Statistics show scientists are overwhelmingly feeling pretty rubbish about Brexit and partly you can see why because the way we work is sharing.

“We’ve built up collaborations with other countries...and we see those things becoming more difficult, so the diversity of views, of opinions and outlooks and expertise that we need is at risk because of Brexit.” A protester at London’s Science Museum yesterday