Lending support to the May 4 Global March for Science, a group of scientists and academicians as well as members of the public came together at Elliot’s Beach on Saturday.
Scientists from across the world take out global marches in their cities, championing robustly-funded and publicly-communicated science as a pillar of human freedom. They also call for political leaders and policy-makers to enact evidence-based policies with regard to science.
“In solidarity with the scientific community across the world, we decided to meet and lend our support. Science’s role is often cold-shouldered by our government,” said Uma Ramachandran, Convenor, March for Science-Chennai.
She said that a fund crisis had hit several institutions. “This, in turn, is affecting scientific research and we need adequate support. While successive governments have spent less than 0.8% on scientific research, we feel that at least 3 % of the GDP should be spent on the same,” she added.
While they were not able to hold a march to mark the occasion, the participants met in solidarity and addressed the public about the role science plays in the development of the society. Posters which read “Stop spreading unscientific ideas” and “The true legacy of a nation will be its science” were put up where the members convened.
Highlighting concerns that pseudo science is being promoted as well as the rise of institutionalised propagation of unverified claims as science, members of the organising committee said that governments should refrain from such attempts to undermine science.
