On April 22, in conjunction with Earth Day, the Wyoming March for Science will process from the UW Classroom Building to downtown Laramie in an effort to raise awareness and comradery.
The Wyoming March for Science is a facet of a nation-wide movement planned for Earth Day. The theme, according to the Wyoming March for Science website, is “Science, not silence.” Katherine McCrea, march organizer, said the event is being held in response to recent threats to scientific progress.
“The March for Science is a resource for people who care about the importance of science in our society and who are concerned about the recent undermining of science, scientists, and evidence-based policy making,” McCrea said.
The event is also organized to bring together scientific minds from across the state of Wyoming, with Laramie as the gathering place.
“It is a call to support and protect our scientific community, and it is a place where concerned citizens can come together, march together, and let their voices be heard; to take a stand with others around the nation and around the globe against the silencing of science,” McCrea said.
Brandon Drake, march organizer, said that one goal is to reach out to many who are concerned about recent changes in the way scientific research is viewed in America.
“Anyone who is concerned about recent political trends to de-fund science and education may wish to march,” Drake said.
Drake said the March for Science is also designed to be accessible for members of the community who do not have as much of a background in science.
“The March for Science is geared towards anyone who is curious about science and our world, and anyone who believes we should use the best information we have available to inform our decisions to improve our future can show up and see what we have to say,” Drake said.
After the march, a gathering will be held in downtown Laramie featuring speakers, live music, and informational booths.
A citywide clean up effort will occur before the march, starting at the downtown Laramie’s Coal Creek Coffee at 10 a.m.
McCrea said that the March for Science and additional events are a unique opportunity for Wyomingites to come together and share ideas and concerns.
“I wanted to make sure that we held a March for Science in Wyoming so that concerned Wyoming citizens would also have a place to go to march and stand in solidarity,” McCrea said. “The March for Science is a place for people who are concerned about [science-related] issues and for people who support the sciences to take a public stand and be counted.”
Weston Peterson, a sophomore studying physics and astronomy, said he plans to march because he sees anti-science statements becoming prevalent in politics and wants to change that.
“Too often, I see anti-science statements made that have no evidence and no truth, and yet such statements are somehow given credibility and are repeated over and over,” Peterson said. “I believe that this march is a stepping stone in the path to bringing science back as a non-partisan fact-checker and an advancer of human civilization.”
Peterson said he hopes the March for Science will help the community come back to what he considers the essence of scientific thought.
“Science shouldn’t be about politics or what people want to believe, it should be about hard evidence, logical conclusions, and reasonable actions,” Peterson said.
Drake said he is Marching out of a love for science.
“I am marching because I want to see science and facts inform the policies of our political leaders, and I love to bring people and science together,” Drake said.
McCrea said she hopes the March for Science will be a powerful message of unity to any who disregard science.
“I’m hoping that this march will help inspire, empower, and motivate people to keep standing up for what they believe in,” McCrea said. “ And frankly, I believe in science.”
