The March for Science- Arrowhead organization will join the national March for Science on April 22, Earth Day.
Marchers will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Cook County Community Center. Organizers invite the public and suggest you wear green or blue clothing or show off what you like to wear for science. Bring and carry signs that display why you like science. Following the march, there will be an Earth Day Beach Clean-up and a post-rally at East Bay.
Dr. Jean Cochrane, one of the organizers, said, “We’re very interested in having our march and rally focus on the values of science and our local science practitioners within our region. We are inviting a few folks to share some thoughts at the rally, why they want to march and support ‘public’ science to benefit our community.”
Just some examples:
Science in Minnesota’s Arrowhead is…
. Fishery biologists monitoring mercury concentrations.
. Public health nurses communicating vaccination strategies.
. Engineers developing local solar and biofuel energy systems.
. Journalists writing about Great Lakes ecological restoration.
. Foresters studying how pine seedlings survive warming trends.
. Physicians treating mosquito and tick-borne diseases.
. A youth nature group evaluating local greenhouse gas emissions.
. Botanists assessing sulfate tolerance in wild rice.
. Teachers guiding students to pose testable questions and gather evidence.
Cochrane stresses this is not a partisan issue.
According to the national website, “Anti-science agendas and policies have been advanced by politicians on both sides of the aisle, and they harm everyone — without exception. Science should neither serve special interests nor be rejected based on personal convictions. At its core, science is a tool for seeking answers. It can and should influence policy and guide our long-term decision-making.
“The March for Science champions and defends science and scientific integrity, but it is a small step in the process toward encouraging the application of science in policy. We understand that the most effective way to protect science is to encourage the public to value and invest in it.”
When asked if the March for Science will be ongoing, Cochrane responded, “Very good question! Locally, we expect that folks who want to follow up with specific actions will join or continue to work through the Arrowhead Indivisible group. Science, and health and environmental issues, will remain one of the top areas of concern and motivation in that group I’m pretty sure. On the national and regional scales, I guess we’ll see where the energy goes. If the March for Women is a talisman, the motivation will carry on whether it’s through the march group or sister resistance efforts.”
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