March for Science logo.
March for Science logo. Credit: March for Science

The March for Science has grown into a large, international event that promises to draw many thousands of scientists and their supporters to the National Mall in Washington, D. C., on Saturday, 22 April (Earth Day), as well as to affiliated marches at more than 400 sister locations across the globe. Hundreds of thousands of people are following the march on social media.

The American Geophysical Union was among the first organizations to formally endorse the Washington, D. C., March for Science. Since then, the roster of scientific societies and organizations backing this global effort has continued to grow in number and scope. The list of partner groups now includes the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Astronomical Society, the American Physical Society, the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, the Ecological Society of America, the European Geosciences Union, the Geological Society of America, the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, the National Council for Science and the Environment, the National Earth Science Teachers Association, and The Oceanography Society, plus more than 100 others.

How You Can Take Part

For AGU to have a strong and visible presence, we need your help.

For the March for Science to succeed and for Earth and space science to have a strong and visible presence, we need your help, whether you attend the march in Washington, D. C., or one of the sister marches or lend your support virtually.

A small group of individuals set the March for Science in motion because of their alarm about the antiscience stances and statements of political appointees of President Donald Trump. The march’s founders debated ways they could publicly support science, research, and evidence-based policy. Taking a cue from the women’s marches that followed the new president’s inauguration, they decided to call for a diverse group of scientists, advocates, and supporters to come together “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.”

By supporting and participating in this march, AGU members, our families, friends, and associates can strongly declare that commitment to and support of robust science are essential to our nation and the world. To that end, here are some recommendations to help you make an impact in support of science.

  1. RSVP with AGU so we can get a better sense of how many folks are taking part in the D. C. and sister marches. This will also enable us to reach out to you after the 22nd to provide you with tools and resources to build upon the momentum of the march.
  2. If you will be in D. C. on the 22nd, join us for a premarch event from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon on 22 April at AAAS headquarters, where you can do the following:
    1. fuel up with a complimentary breakfast
    2. pick up one of the fantastic AGU March for Science signs (which can also be printed at home here)
    3. grab a complimentary AGU March for Science T-shirt (note: first come, first served)
    4. fill your water bottles and backpacks with snacks for the day
    5. join us as we head down to the Mall together at 12 noon to make our voices heard in support of science
  3. Order AGU March for Science T-shirts (orders must be placed by this Sunday, 9 April, to ensure delivery before the day of the march)
  4. Download and print AGU March for Science signs
  5. “Like” AGU’s March for Science Facebook page to learn the latest about march updates and events and to add your own photos and videos. Be sure to use the hashtags #MarchforScience and #ScienceServes when sharing your content.
  6. Download and fill out your own “Why I March” sign and then share it—as well as your own photos and videos from your march—on AGU’s Facebook page or your social networks.
  7. Also, RSVP on the main March for Science page to help march organizers better coordinate the day’s events.
  8. Check out AGU’s March for Science website, your one-stop shop for the latest march updates, info about traveling to D. C., downloadable AGU March for Science signs, a webpage for ordering AGU March for Science T-shirts, and more!

The March for Science strongly aligns with AGU’s strategic vision and objectives.

AGU’s leadership deliberated carefully before formally endorsing the March. They considered that the March for Science strongly aligns with AGU’s strategic vision and objectives. Furthermore, the march presents AGU with the potential to build alliances with new organizations and segments of the scientific community—particularly with groups traditionally underrepresented in Earth and space science.

I and my fellow AGU leaders are so proud of our organization’s involvement in this important event. Together, we can send a clear, strong message that science is essential!

—Chris McEntee (email: [email protected]), Executive Director/CEO, AGU

Citation:

McEntee, C. (2017), Eight ways to get ready for the March for Science, Eos, 98, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017EO071235. Published on 07 April 2017.

Text © 2017. The authors. CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Except where otherwise noted, images are subject to copyright. Any reuse without express permission from the copyright owner is prohibited.