Millions across the world marked Earth Day by marching in the streets to support scientists and the scientific process in the face of what many perceive as growing opposition from the US federal government as well as governments and powerful institutions around the globe. In a cloud-covered Columbus, thousands of scientists and science allies arrived at the Statehouse lawn for the 10:00 am rally and teach-in.
“This is actually the first thing I’ve done in a crowd or politically since I got out of the Army but I am from a family of scientists that feel like they can’t express their research and it’s just scary when we’re stifling the truth,” said Sigrid Neilsen. “I think that the only way to get peace and to bring people together is with progress and science.”
Neilsen, a nature educator and former combat medic, stood between the Statehouse columns, watching the crowd, carrying her infant daughter and a sign that read, “It’s so bad even the introverts came out.” Sigrid hoped the march would push lawmakers to consider science-based facts more when making policy.
“Maybe they’ll think twice before presenting alternative facts,” said Nielsen.
Melanie Warman had similar concerns as she sat with her family listening to speakers at the rally.
“I’m concerned about the direction our society is taking in being anti-fact and anti-science, and I wanted to be here, especially with my family to prove that not everybody believes that or supports that,” said Warman.
While many of the demonstrators and their signs worried about the compatibility of science and politics, Episcopal priest Stephen Smith spoke of the compatibility of science and faith.
“I think that science is extremely important,” said Smith. “It helps us understand diseases, helps us make progress in life and I want to represent that not all Christians think that science is a problem. Not all Christians think that ignorance is a value.”
Smith’s wife Jan showed off the sign she brought with images of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reading the quote included with it.
“’Science investigates; religion interprets,’” Jan quoted. “’Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals.’”
Families came in great numbers for the March for Science, with kids playing on the Statehouse grounds and showing off their hand-drawn signs. Many had stories about how science was not an abstraction, but a personal matter.
“We have two people in our family with disabilities that need science,” said Dennis McKay, who came to the rally with his family.
OSU professor Ruchika Prakash came with her daughters and spoke about the importance of medical research.
“I think science is absolutely critical for our present and our future and for our kids, so to support that and to support NIH funding and NSF funding, we’re here,” said Prakash.
“So my sister stays healthy!” said Soorvi Prakash, her daughter. Prakash’s other daughter, still in a stroller, had been sick, but “science saved her.”
Chemistry professor Ozlem Dogan Ekici brought her family as well, including her mother who was visiting from Turkey. She and her kids stayed up the night before making signs for the march.
“We have to defend science in difficult times and I hope also this event will be an inspiration to everybody to kind of open peoples’ eyes to support science in general,” said Dogan Ekici.
She continued, “My son is very much into science, my daughter not so much, so I hope in general they will end up in careers that make them overall happy. Of course as a scientist I want them to go into STEM fields in general, but it’s their choice. There’s no pressure.”
Family was the primary reason electrical engineer Emre Koksal came out to the march.
“It’s mostly for my daughters,” said Koksal. “I’m in science myself, I want them to get the message that that’s the true path to follow in this world.”
Koksal said his daughters were a bit too young to decide on scientific careers, “but I will to my best to at least keep them interested in the areas, and definitely take science as the guide in their lives.”
Children of the march had their own scientific ambitions, as well as concerns. Mazeika and Gabriela Sullivan brought their kids Adela, Santiago and Joaquin to the Statehouse rally. Adela, who said she wants to grow up to study rivers, made her own sign that read “Futura Cientifica.”
Melanie Warman’s granddaughter Audrey Hayes proudly announced, “I’m going to be working in the STEM field.”
“I wanted to be here today because I’m going to be living in a generation where science is going to have a really big impact on modern technology and I really want to see how it’s gonna go, and I want it to be here and I don’t want it to go away and then I won’t have the possibilities,” said Audrey.
Kristen Oganowski said her kids are used to days like Saturday.
“It’s not their first protest or march,” said Oganowski.
Oganowski’s son Miles is more interested in becoming a sports journalist than scientist, but still made his own sign for the march, dripping in sarcasm; “If climate change isn’t real, what are your ideas? Oh, you don’t have any? That’s what I thought. Science is real.”
Shortly after 11:00 am, the rally emptied onto High Street and the marchers for science walked to the Columbus Commons, where the Green Columbus Earth Day Celebration was about to get underway. Physician Julie Dunlea and her family watched the march from the Columbus Commons parking garage.
“As a physician, I’ve seen how science can save lives, and I’ve seen how pseudoscience can harm lives,” said Dunlea. “It’s important for us to uphold the scientific principles in our policymaking, that the government needs to take into account the truth that science holds.”
Dunlea’s husband Dave had a positive assessment of the demonstration.
“It was the most pleasant rally I’ve seen,” said Dave. “Everyone was nice, polite, I had a great time.”
All photos by Jesse Bethea.
