In between the cheers of “Yay, science!” and the applause for speakers, a somber vibe hung thick as I moved through the crowd. We were on the National Mall in Washington D.C. for the Stand Up for Science (SUFS) rally.
It was a National Day of Action, and the scientists at the rally who were fired, forced out, uncertain about their life’s work — weren’t just angry. They were grieving. We all were.
I was at the event listening, talking with people, handing out my Rebel Artist for Science™ stickers. Back in my studio, I made the video shown above.
Did you turn up the volume? You’ll get a sense of the mood and hear a conversation with two scientists who traveled a thousand miles from home to attend the rally.
The mid-Atlantic region is home to some of America’s top scientific research institutes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are just two. Both have been under attack, their funding gutted by the current administration.
Even with the simmering anger, people came with family and colorful handmade signs. This young human — an artist, maybe a future scientist — already knows that science is her world. It’s a protest sign and a promise.
Young artist-scientist with a promise for the future, “Science is our world! You can’t stop science! I love science!”
