In cities across the US on 7 March, thousands of people protested cuts to scientific funding by the Trump administration. In New York City, over a thousand gathered in Washington Square Park, chanting “Fund science not war!” and carrying signs in support of science.
This was one of 30 “Stand Up for Science” rallies in the US, with over 150 events worldwide. Many researchers also walked out of labs in protest.
Since President Trump’s inauguration, billions of dollars in federal funding for scientific and medical research have been cancelled or frozen. Cuts have particularly affected research on diversity, equity, inclusion, climate change, and gender.
Scientists like Ana Vivinetteo, a neuroscientist, attended the New York protest, saying, “Science must be treasured… We have to bring awareness to these problems.” Similar rallies happened in Washington DC and other cities, with prominent speakers like Bill Nye and researchers from around the world voicing concerns.
Researchers fear they may have to leave the US to continue their work. Dennis Robbins, a science educator, expressed disappointment at the need to rally for science. “Someone has to speak up for its meaningfulness in a democracy,” he said.
Vocabulary List:
- Protest /ˈproʊtɛst/ (noun): A statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something.
- Funding /ˈfʌndɪŋ/ (noun): The act of providing financial resources for a particular purpose.
- Diversity /daɪˈvɜːrsɪti/ (noun): The state of having a range of different elements or qualities.
- Awareness /əˈwɛrnɪs/ (noun): Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
- Research /ˈriːsɜːrch/ (noun): The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
- Equity /ˈɛkwɪti/ (noun): The quality of being fair and impartial.
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