Worldwide Rally in Support of Scientific Discovery
The year was 2017, and the world witnessed a significant event in support of science - the March for Science. The London edition of this global protest was a lovely celebration of science, filled with fun, curiosity, enthusiasm, and a huge range of people.
The event, organised outside the Science Museum on a Saturday, was part of the worldwide wave of marches held in nearly 600 cities. The London march was accompanied by placards with chemical symbols and political slogans, symbolising the unified public and scientific pushback against governmental policies perceived as hostile towards scientific facts and funding.
Notable attendees included Dr Who star, Peter Capaldi, Helen Czerski, another science communicator, Robin Ince, comedian and Infinite Monkey Cage presenter, Jon Butterworth, and many others. The turnout for the London march was significant, according to March for ScienceLDN, demonstrating the UK's scientific and public communities' support for science, advocacy for evidence-based policy, and opposition to science-threatening policies.
The march in London passed key institutions such as the Royal Society, adding to its visibility and impact. The event was documented by Nature magazine with a tweet containing a photo of the march, and by Twitter user ewencallaway. The hashtag #ScienceMarchLdn was used to document the London march on Twitter.
The #MarchforScience movement began as a global protest on Earth Day, April 22, 2017, advocating for the defense of science, its funding, and evidence-based governmental policies. It emerged primarily out of concern over the Trump administration's denial of climate change, plans to delete climate data, gag scientists, and other perceived threats to scientific integrity and diversity in research.
The significance of the movement lies in its broad, international demonstration of support for science as critical to policy-making and society. It highlighted public and scientific community alarm at shrinking science funding, political interference, and the ignoring of scientific evidence—especially related to climate change, environmental protection, and scientific diversity.
The London event on April 22, 2017, contributed to the worldwide visibility and solidarity of the March for Science, demonstrating that these concerns were global, not just U.S.-centric. A blog outlining the importance of science was written by author and Science Museum executive, Roger Highfield.
This movement is foundational to ongoing efforts to protect science from political interference and to promote inclusivity, diversity, and evidence-based governance globally. The demonstrators chanted "What do we want? Evidence-based policy. When do we want it? After peer review", echoing the global call for science-based decision-making. The event was indeed a global celebration of science.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, one can find numerous fitness-and-exercise routines, aimed at promoting mental health and personal growth.
- The year 2017 saw a surge in education-and-self-development resources, as people sought to expand their knowledge and improve their career-development prospects.
- One can see the connection between science and sports in fields like weather forecasting for athletes and sports-analysis to optimize performance.
- On the same year, the Champions League final was won by Real Madrid, while Serena Williams claimed her 23rd Grand Slam title in tennis.
- In European leagues, football teams like FC Barcelona and Manchester City continued their dominance, while in auto-racing, Lewis Hamilton won the Formula One Grand Prix.
- Amidst these sports events, the March for Science was a remarkable demonstration of support for evidence-based policies and the role of science in society.
- Golfing champions like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy honed their skills that year, while in mixed-martial-arts, Conor McGregor created a sensation with his fights.
- Sports betting platforms witnessed increased activity during major tournaments, reflecting the worldwide interest in sports.
- Meanwhile, the weather indicator apps were busy predicting the weather conditions for outdoor events, ensuring a smooth organization of activities.
- In terms of scientific advancements, there were breakthroughs in areas like science-and-technology, artificial intelligence, and research and development.
- Several conferences and seminars were organized to discuss and learn about the latest trends and innovations in various fields of science.
- The basketball world observed dynamic performances by players such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry in the NBA, while the global sports community continued to advocate for the importance of science and evidence-based policies.
