“Today, we stand for science!” Herald Vermus, MD, Nobel Laureate, Former NIH DirectorAnd hundreds of people gathered at Washington Square Park on Friday, March 7 at the Standup for Science Rally in New York City.
The Vermus rally was one of more than a dozen scientists to talk to the podium. He and other speakers, including another Nobel Laureate Martin Chelafi, PhD, Touring Lauret Yan Likone, PhD, and the recent NIMH Director, Joshua Gordon, MD, PhD, talk about the importance of science, which is required to maintain and maintain funds for different fields.
The rally in NYC, and rallies, scientists and supporters of science at more than 30 other places in the United States and more than 30 other places, were concerned about the current anti -science measures of the current federal administration. These actions include mass Late Office And deductions the DEI programs and the government Sources of financial support And hats Indirect Injured Nih Many invited speakers and participants expressed their anger and frustration over the administration’s actions on the administration’s actions and posters inside the crowd.
A new generation of activity
In a modern tribute to science on March 2017, the first five career scientists proceeded to light the latest state of American scientists, and organized it, which they initially considered as a small demonstration in Washington DC. Not too late in the plan, the rally increased with the organizers in dozens of other cities stepping into the plate.
In New York City, Rohani Gain, a third -year MDPHD student at Stony Brook University, and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory organized a program at Washington Square Park, a central location in the city’s Manhattan city, away from New York. The program was held in the middle of the park, Washington Arch was great behind the program. This monk was designed with the impression of war and peace, which is a suitable background for speakers on a peaceful protest, which many people have as a war against science.
“I think we really wanted to show strength. Take people out of here, “Gain told General Before the rally, when turning down a piece of flying debris that was caught by the air during the setup. He said that he had a list of about 1,1500 people registration, but he expected more because he understood that some people could attend but hesitated to distribute contact information through pre -enrollment.
Once the rally was fully swinging, it became clear that the expectation of the number of participants of the Gan was fulfilled. More than 1,500 crowds, many who are scientists and others who support scientists and scientists, came together in the center of the park, which was on the north side of the bright white chip and the speaker stage. Hundreds of signs were kept above and during speeches, most of which can be classified, which can show science cooperation or hatred for the current administration.
“[We need to] Continue to put pressure They say, ‘We are here, we are ready, and we are ready to protect science’ because those who take advantage of it and contribute, are very important to our group. “
She was passionate about the speaker lineup: “This will be a good demonstration of the spectrum of the affected scientists and they have an experience spectrum.” Gen and other organizers collected more than a dozen speakers Features from physics to medicine, and with current graduate students from the level of work experience from Nobel Laureate to Nobel Laureate.
Combining people to support a common goal is the first step of a major agenda. Gain shared his thoughts on the rally effects: “Hope it works as a meeting point for people to connect with other thoughts,E, strategies and mental storms, and still, review the methods that we can really engage in our representatives, make meaningful changes and protect science, because we are all thinking of society and its benefits for the world.
Although they appear to be hopeful, Gin noted that the deepest cause of the current rally is to bring the front Which she considers an attack on science. “I think science -influenced science has been developed primarily by an American focus lens and when this is a problem, this is not an individual issue when you consider science to invade globally.”
Eliminate or defend science?
In his speech, Gordon voiced the last emotions: “When it threatens American science, this administration has endangered the foundations of the United States, its technical and economic power.”
“We rely on federal funds for work supporting health care, which supports the development of technology, which puts the United States at the forefront of the world in science,” Professor of Biology at the University of Jess Santengelo, PhD, Hofstra General He participated in the rally with three colleagues, each symbol is a symbol of science and research.
He added, “Threatening this not only affects us personally in relation to the projects that we work on, but also threaten the position of our country in the world.”
Peter Daniel, a PhD, who is also a biology professor in Hofstra, shared, “I want to support the young faculty and researchers who are starting in the field, like my two colleagues. They are just starting, and if our financing is completely dissolved, then it is difficult to dissolve.
Student researchers are also starting to feel the direct effects of low funding. Laurel Castor is a pediatric Oncology researcher who hopes to start a graduate school this summer. He discussed that in the past few weeks he has seen small steps through his organization that is affecting students on campus. He and his lab colleagues are worried about whether their joint department will cut the research equipment next.
If we continue to continue the Science D Fund, we will not only fall behind the rest of the world, but people will die. People will be affected. “I work in pediatric cancer [research]. Children will die of cancer that could have been saved.
“My biggest reason for being here is that I just don’t understand how you can freeze the funds who literally save lives,“Castener’s sister, let’s share. “So, I am present to take a stand on it. We cannot freeze the money that is saving lives every day.
Researchers from other institutions are noting other low -funding results. “I have seen research funds that were allocated to minority students who were completely eliminated,” PhD, Zenia Freleich, commented. In his speech by Queens College and Lagyardia College, Cuny, Gordon echoed similar comments about NIH researchers.
“[They are attacking] All kinds of research that is treating diseases. This is a danger. If it’s not enough, I don’t know what is enough. “
Talk of science
The rally was not fully focused on science lack of financial support or public opinion. It also included scientists who talked about the need to increase representation and diversity.
For example, Post Documentary Researcher Katlin Williams, PhD, Pediatric Researcher at Val Cornell Medicine, declared his struggle not only a mother but also an only woman, who is in her department. She shared how she has no role model after which she resonates on her educational path and she wants to see a world full of diversity in science that she did not experience until later.
He announced, “Small girls interested in science can see that not only are women in STEM, but mothers, first -generation scientists, and people who are like them.”
Albert and Mary Lascar Foundation President and CEO MD, Claire Pomro, while launching their speech, described how the Lascar Foundation supports medical research. He highlighted how Morris Hillman was awarded the Lascar Award for the development of MMR vaccine in 1983, which led to the end of the measles near measles in the United States.
“We are really going through the golden age of science and medicine,” when the stage took place, NYC Council member Eric Botcher started. “We can see for years back and be surprised at what we have made medical progressB (b (b (That you all made during our time. “He talked about his hopes about the progress of science and the future of scientific developments:” Today we are even more recognizing it. ”
After more than a dozen speakers address, the rally ended with a series headed by one of the volunteers. The crowd was loud and dynamic, speaking in a united voice with a big message: “Science, not silence.”
Although he talked in the middle of the rally, but Pomro’s words seemed to fill the author’s mind when I left the park and left the rally:
“It’s time to imagine now, it is time to imagine more, now it is time to celebrate science and now it is time to do so that science can make sure that science creates a better, healthy, and more and more world for everyone.”
