By: Justin Oehler Staff Writer
On April 22, scientists, science enthusiasts and self-proclaimed nerds gathered all over the world to raise awareness of the attack on science. Though this was early spring with rain clouds in the sky, more people turned out than the organizers expected. According to Kelby Hahn, one of the event organizers for the march in Corvallis, 500 to 1,000 people were expected which is what the event’s permit was for. However, well over 2,000 adults, children and dogs turned out, surpassing even the wildest estimations of the organizers.
Speakers such as Corvallis Mayor Biff Traber and Benton County Commissioner Anne Schuster, called for the crowd to continue the support of science and real facts, not the “alternative facts” that have recently plagued national news.
Mayor Traber said, “beliefs do not equal fact.” This sentiment was echoed throughout the march. He also called out deniers of science, saying that, “you cannot question scientific facts. They are facts for a reason.”
Commissioner Schuster took a more personal route, telling the story of how she first fell in love with science in her father’s greenhouse. She went on to say, “science has informed all that I do.”
Attendees’ ages were fairly mixed: from young children who could barely walk to older folks who used canes. However, there was a small number of college-aged students in attendance.
Jocelyn Chavez, an anthropology major from Western attended. When asked why she chose to come to the event, she explained that, “normally, this would be a fun social event to mingle with other members of the science community; however, with the actions of the current administration push against science and facts this has turned it to an important event to gain attention for the cause.”
When push comes to shove, scientists and science lovers, alike, come up with many interesting signs and slogans. A chant that elicited giggles of joy from marchers every time it was said was, “What do we want? Science! When do we want it? After peer review!” This helped to enforce the lightheartedness of the march.
Another sign displayed a more comic side of one the marchers describing his idea for the next presidential candidate: “Darwin 2020: Gradual change we can believe in.”
Others were more pointed towards President Donald Trump. One artist made a painting of a large Trump-head breathing fire onto a sad, lone polar bear atop a small floating iceberg. Another attendee even called to, “make America think again.”
The March for Science was coordinated with the help of the City of Corvallis and the Corvallis Police Department. The event was entirely peaceful; no arrests and no property damage occurred.
Contact the author at joehler12@wou.edu
