As you may have seen on the news, on April 22, 2017, there was a Science March movement in multiple cities in the United States. This march was supposedly done in support of science and research and also to protest against Trump’s budget cuts that affect science related work. Like the Women’s March held earlier this year in January, many people came out by the thousands to march and protest with signs. As always, there has also been opposition to this protest, just like any other protest. Although there has been some distaste for the Science March, I think it’s pretty awesome!
Although I am a huge art nerd and major in art, I have always thought science was fascinating regardless of how hard my senior year physics class was. I always questioned how things worked, how certain body parts functioned, wondered about evolution, and found new scientific findings in the news exciting. I even have had an interest in mixing my love for art and science together since. I also decided to take a more challenging Biology class, even though it doesn’t necessarily pertain to my degree. It turns out I ended up loving it regardless. Although I may not be pursuing a career in science, I still have a love for it which is why the Science March caught my attention. I got to see great science jokes on signs and people stand up for something that I find very important and substantial to society and has made me smile a little more.
Yes, my love of science was a big reason why I admired the Science March, but there is a much more important reason why I think it’s amazing. Personally, I believe that science is a very beneficial part of how we progress as a society. Because of science, we have achieved so many things. Science has saved lives with research in medicine and cures for diseases that people at one point thought were incurable. It has made disabled people’s lives easier with technology that helps advance their day to day tasks. It has brought people from different corners of the world closer together and given people opportunities to succeed. Without science, we wouldn’t have those medicines, devices, tools, and technology that we depend on today. We wouldn’t have the light bulbs that light up our houses or the medical help we need when we are sick. Yes, science could be a living nightmare for those taking the classes in school, but without it, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
When it comes to my views, I try my hardest to look at both sides and base my opinion on what I perceive from that. With science though, it’s one of those opinions that cannot be unchanged no matter how hard someone tries to change it. Yes, budget cuts are made for certain reasons. However, I believe that President Trump cutting funds for science could potentially be detrimental to our progress and could possibly even set his own plans back as well. It can set our progress back in medical care for cures for cancer and other conditions and diseases that affect multiple lives on a daily basis. It can affect the environment we live and thrive off of. It can even cut job opportunities, which seems to be contradictory to what President Trump wants.
Regardless of this setback, I have a strong belief that the science community will still be strong and thrive under its restraints. It has already done so by standing up and protesting for what they believe in. That is something many people find hard to do if it doesn’t involve a post on a social media account. Yes, I do admire the scientific satire presented through the signs at the protest. On a more serious note though, science is something we all need regardless of what you do or who you are. It affects your daily living in ways you may not even realize. Without science, this world would be a much different place.
