Marching for a science vote
The March for Science was born in 2017 in response to the Trump administration’s blatant disregard for expertise. When funding for science was threatened, and the role of science in informing policies shaping the present and future were ignored, more than a million people around the world took to the streets to demand action.
Closer to home, March for Science Houston gathered 15,000 supporters at City Hall calling for political leaders and policymakers to enact evidencebased policies in the public interest. A year later, we are more motivated than ever to bring researchers and their communities together to champion science. The march ignited a growing movement, and we plan to expand further. One of the most notable outcomes has been the increasing number of scientists who have campaigned for office, emphasizing the importance of applying scientific evidence diligently to inform policymaking decisions. Here in Houston, Jason Westin, a cancer researcher, was a top candidate in the Democratic primary for the 7th Congressional District, and in San Antonio, Samuel Temple, a Houstonian with a psychology and mathematics background, was a Republican candidate for the 21st Congressional District.
Many March for Science satellites, including Houston’s, have filed for nonprofit status in order to continue long-term advocacy. While much has been accomplished, further progress is necessary to ensure science is used and respected policymaking. Agencies such as NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency faced threats of substantial funding cuts. Policymakers have been appointed to science posts they are unqualified to lead. Take EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, for example, whose denial of the overwhelming consensus that climate change is real has brought him fierce opposition from the scientific community.
Last year, Pruitt announced intentions to repeal and replace the Clean Power Plan. Although the dismantling process has proven successful, there is no specific initiative to replace it. This move prompted hundreds of mayors around the country, including Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner, to join forces and send a powerful message: They will take a stand to preserve the Clean Power Plan. In the coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana, which were hard hit by Hurricane Harvey, it is becoming increasingly clear that action is needed to prevent the damaging effects of climate change. Sound science policy can greatly reduce the risk of disaster.
The Trump administration continues to make policy decisions on issues pertaining to research, science education, climate change and technological innovation without a White House Science and Technology Adviser. Environmental and public health disasters like hurricanes, wildfires and disease outbreaks must be approached by someone who understands the consequences, so this position needs to be filled. It is imperative we continue to advocate for science and for scientists to be included in the process of policymaking.
March for Science Houston is participating in a nationwide initiative called Vote for Science. Through this campaign, we aim to create a direct civic link between science advocates and their policymakers. Together we can influence mobilization to strengthen science’s relationship with policy. We hope to increase global understanding of science and its everyday role in policy and society through community engagement, voter registration and policymaker outreach. It is our duty to amplify the role of science in policy making and empower our community of science supporters to engage in nonpartisan advocacy in service of impartial policy.
What can you do? Pledge to Vote for Science by exercising your right to vote and inviting friends and family to do the same. Hold leaders accountable for supporting science policy by contacting representatives and attend local science advocacy events.
Hundreds of March for Science chapters are celebrating the one-year anniversary of March for Science today — April 14. In Houston, our Belated Pi Day fundraiser aims to bridge the gap between scientists and the community they serve, encouraging an open and respectful dialogue about science and its effect on policy and society. Join us at Henderson Heights Pub today from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and learn about the impact your vote can have when you vote for science!