On April 14, 2018, the second March for Science will take place with many events around the world. In more than 15 German cities, thousands of people—not just scientists—will again express their opinion that exact and careful sciences must not be bent to fit populist theses.
Science Bridges Cultures
In addition to many banners shown at the march, observers will notice the words “Science Bridges Cultures” on pins (pictured below) here and there. Together with the scientific societies of biologists, mathematicians, geologists, and physicists, Germany’s GDCh (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker; German Chemical Society) supports the March for Science 2018. Together, the societies invite their more than 130,000 members to participate in the march. They created the website www.science-bridges-cultures.de (www.wissenschaft-verbindet.de) with information on further joint activities of the scientific associations, as well as the already mentioned pins with the logo of “Science Bridges Cultures”.
One aim of the five societies is to demonstrate their support for cosmopolitanism and hospitality. Scientists from all over the world who come to Germany enrich our universities and research institutions. A second aim is to emphasize that scientific facts are not negotiable as the basis of social discourse. The freedom of research and teaching and the freedom of opinion must be respected. Scientific facts must not be denied, qualified, or considered equal to “alternative facts”. If facts like man-made climate change are trivialized and initiatives against global warming stopped or reduced, then this threatens the lives of millions of people.
Dr. Matthias Urmann, President of the GDCh, points out the commitment of the chemists: “The Code of Conduct, which is part of our constitution in the GDCh, is a commitment of every member to freedom, tolerance, and truthfulness in science. In the development, application, and dissemination of chemical knowledge, we are committed to the truth. Therefore, we cannot accept when scientific findings are denied or replaced by ‘alternative facts’.” The action button “Science Bridges Cultures” is supposed to be a visible sign that scientists support these values.
“Together we will demonstrate that scientific facts are not negotiable as the basis of our world image and our actions”, Dr. Wolfram Koch, Executive Director of the GDCh, says.
About the March for Science
In 2017, more than one million people around the world gathered in the largest event for science advocacy in history. On April 14 this year, the second March for Science will take place with worldwide events, most of them in North America and Europe.
“It is time we held our political leaders accountable for supporting good science policy. It is time we join together and demand that our leaders use science to inform their work and cast their votes for science.” says the official website www.marchforscience.com/2018.
- Interview: The March for Science Continues,
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ChemViews Mag. 2017.
https://doi.org/ 10.1002/chemv.201700030
Interview with Eva Haas, EMBL, Heidelberg, about organizing the Science March and follow-up plans - Science, Not Silence!,
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ChemViews Mag. 2017.
DOI: 10.1002/chemv.201700025
On April 22nd, Earth Day, thousands all over the world marched for science - March for Science,
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ChemViews Mag. 2017.
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April 14, 2018
