Members of the University of Victoria scientific community will be attending the March for Science in Centennial Square on Saturday at 2:15pm.
The Earth Day gathering will feature speakers Jay Cullen, Patrick von Aderkas and Andrew Weaver, all science researchers at the University of Victoria, with further speakers to be announced.
“The March for Science is a protest about continued neglect,” biologist Patrick von Aderkas said. “Evidence-based policymaking is only possible when scientific contributions are valued. Today, scientific work is often overlooked, undervalued and ignored. Governments both provincial and national have developed not only methods to ignore evidence, but to isolate scientists. How is this possible in a country that depends on the work of engineers, medical physicists, biologists, and other specialists?”
Following the speaches the March for Science will continue to the B.C. Legislature for a rally.
March for Science, Victoria BC aims to:
• stand up for academic freedom and the right of all scientist to communicate results freely.
• support science and evidence-based politics and policy making.
• demand that public support for research is based on scientific merit, not political agenda.
• protect the right of every person to engage with, learn from, and help shape science.
Friends and Sponsors of Victoria March for Science include the University of Victoria Faculty Association, theUniversity of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS), UVic Evidence for Democracy, Sierra Club, Social Environmental Alliance (SEA), Dogwood Initiative, Ancient Forest Alliance, Wilderness Committee and The Planetary Society.
Further information & updates on March for Science, Victoria: Facebook: Earth Day- March for Science, Victoria BC posters and invites