:March for Science

{{further|Antiscience}}

In 2012, Donald Trump referred to climate change as a hoax.{{cite web |last=Alcorn |first=Chauncey |url=https://mic.com/articles/174536/march-for-science-dc-what-to-know-about-the-april-2017-march-on-washington |title=March for Science DC: What to know about the April 2017 march on Washington |work=Mic |date=April 19, 2017 |access-date=April 26, 2017 |archive-date=April 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426152450/https://mic.com/articles/174536/march-for-science-dc-what-to-know-about-the-april-2017-march-on-washington |url-status=live }} As a presidential candidate,{{YouTube|ngD8l-n6Jck|Lucky Tran and the March for Science}} published on April 21, 2017 The National - CBC he promised to resume construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline and roll back U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations adopted by the Obama administration.{{cite web |first1=Ashley |last1=Parker |first2=Coral |last2=Davenport |date=May 26, 2016 |title=Donald Trump's Energy Plan: More Fossil Fuels and Fewer Rules |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/us/politics/donald-trump-global-warming-energy-policy.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 21, 2017 |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301114413/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/us/politics/donald-trump-global-warming-energy-policy.html |url-status=live }}

After Trump's election, his first transition team sought out specific U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) employees who had worked on climate change during the Obama administration.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/09/trump-transition-team-for-energy-department-seeks-names-of-employees-involved-in-climate-meetings/ |title=Trump transition team for Energy Department seeks names of employees involved in climate meetings |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220232636/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/09/trump-transition-team-for-energy-department-seeks-names-of-employees-involved-in-climate-meetings/ |url-status=live }} Prior to Trump's inauguration, many climate scientists began downloading climate data from government websites that they feared might be deleted by the Trump administration.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/13/scientists-are-frantically-copying-u-s-climate-data-fearing-it-might-vanish-under-trump/ |title=Scientists are frantically copying U.S. climate data, fearing it might vanish under Trump |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-date=February 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010225/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/13/scientists-are-frantically-copying-u-s-climate-data-fearing-it-might-vanish-under-trump/ |url-status=live }} Other actions taken or promised by the Trump administration inspired the march, including pulling out of the Paris Agreement,{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-scientists-politics-trump-20170209-story.html |title=Science entering a new frontier: Politics |first=Deborah |last=Netburn |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 9, 2017 |access-date=February 21, 2020 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212064046/https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-scientists-politics-trump-20170209-story.html |url-status=live }} the stances of his Cabinet nominees, the freezing of research grants,{{cite web |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-are-planning-the-next-big-washington-march/ |title=Scientists Are Planning the Next Big Washington March: In just two days, more than 300,000 people join a Facebook planning group |first=Brian |last=Kahn |work=Scientific American |date=January 26, 2017 |access-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126125334/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-are-planning-the-next-big-washington-march/ |url-status=live }} and a gag order placed on scientists in the EPA regarding dissemination of their research findings.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/01/24/are-scientists-going-to-march-on-washington/ |title=Are scientists going to march on Washington? |first=Sarah |last=Kaplan |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 25, 2017 |access-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-date=January 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131152535/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/01/24/are-scientists-going-to-march-on-washington/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/316023-scientists-are-planning-their-own-march-on-washington/ |title=Scientists are planning their own march on Washington |first=Paulina |last=Firozi |work=The Hill |date=January 25, 2017 |access-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125172541/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/316023-scientists-are-planning-their-own-march-on-washington |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/25/14382514/scientists-march-on-washington-donald-trump-science-gag-order-epa |title=Scientists plan to march on Washington and run for office to fight Trump |first=Loren |last=Grush |work=The Verge |date=January 25, 2017 |access-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125172606/http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/25/14382514/scientists-march-on-washington-donald-trump-science-gag-order-epa |url-status=live }} In February 2017, William Happer, a possible Trump science advisor with skeptical views on human caused global warming, described an area of climate science as "really more like a cult" and its practitioners "glassy-eyed".{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/15/trump-science-adviser-william-happer-climate-change-cult |title=Trump's likely science adviser calls climate scientists 'glassy-eyed cult' |author=Hannah Devlin |date=February 15, 2017 |work=The Guardian |access-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220030000/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/15/trump-science-adviser-william-happer-climate-change-cult |url-status=live }} ScienceInsider reported Trump's first budget request as "A grim budget day for U.S. science" because it contained major funding cuts to NOAA's research and satellite programs, the EPA's Office of Research and Development, the DOE's Office of Science and energy programs, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Institutes of Health, and other science agencies.{{Cite news |url=http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/03/trumps-first-budget-analysis-and-reaction |title=A grim budget day for U.S. science: analysis and reaction to Trump's plan |journal=Science |publisher=AAAS |date=March 16, 2017 |language=en |access-date=March 29, 2017 |archive-date=March 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330005235/http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/03/trumps-first-budget-analysis-and-reaction |url-status=live }}

International sister marches were planned for countries around the world. These both supported American scientists and climate scientists more generally, and protested against other impingements on academic freedom internationally, such as government action against the Central European University in Hungary and the closure of educational institutes and dismissal of academics in the 2016–17 Turkish purges, as well as local issues.{{cite news |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/marchers-around-world-tell-us-why-theyre-taking-streets-science |title=Marchers around the world tell us why they're taking to the streets for science |date=April 13, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2017 |newspaper=Science |archive-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425025211/http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/04/marchers-around-world-tell-us-why-theyre-taking-streets-science |url-status=live }}

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|quote = There needs to be a Scientists' March on Washington.

|source = -Beaverteeth92's original proposal on Reddit{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/5p5civ/all_references_to_climate_change_have_been/dcoi17w/ |title=All References to Climate Change Have Been Deleted From the White House Website • r/politics |work=reddit.com |date=January 20, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304173200/https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/5p5civ/all_references_to_climate_change_have_been/dcoi17w/ |url-status=live }}

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A major source of inspiration behind the planning of the march was the 2017 Women's March of January 21, 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZJUI2_t5nk |title=Behind the scenes at the March for Science |last=Science Magazine |date=April 12, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2017 |via=YouTube |archive-date=April 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413121710/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZJUI2_t5nk |url-status=live }} The specific idea to create a march originated from a Reddit discussion thread about the removal of references to climate change from the White House website.{{cite web |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/eve-science-march-planners-look-ahead |title=On eve of science march, planners look ahead |date=April 11, 2017 |work=sciencemag.org |access-date=April 24, 2017 |archive-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425024405/http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/04/eve-science-march-planners-look-ahead |url-status=live }} In the discussion, an anonymous poster named "Beaverteeth92" made a comment regarding the need for a "Scientist's March on Washington". Dozens of Reddit users responded positively to the proposal.Ben Guarino, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/04/21/the-march-for-science-began-with-this-persons-throwaway-line-on-reddit/ The March for Science began with this person's 'throwaway line' on Reddit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423081417/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/04/21/the-march-for-science-began-with-this-persons-throwaway-line-on-reddit/ |date=April 23, 2017 }}, The Washington Post, (April 21, 2017) Jonathan Berman, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Health Science Center and a participant in the original conversation, created a Facebook page, Twitter feed and website to organize a march. The Facebook group grew from 200 members to 300,000 in less than a week,{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2017/01/26/scientists-march-on-washington-being-planned/#20c88fda56a7 |title=Scientists' March On Washington Being Planned |work=Forbes |date=January 26, 2017 |access-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126120939/http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2017/01/26/scientists-march-on-washington-being-planned/#20c88fda56a7 |url-status=live }} growing to 800,000 members.{{cite journal |title=To Change Politics, Do More Than March for Science; To fight antiresearch policies, scientists must become activists for the long haul |volume=316 |issue=5 |pages=9 |author=Scientific American's editors |date=May 2017 |journal=Scientific American |quote=The protests, planned for Washington, D.C., and other cities around the U.S. and the globe, quickly gathered support from major scientific societies, tens of thousands of volunteers, hordes of Twitter supporters and 800,000 members in a Facebook group|doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0517-9 |pmid=28437405 }} Individual scientists have both applauded and criticized this development.{{citation |title=Scientists Are Arguing About Whether The March For Science Will Be Too Political |author=Azeen Ghorayshi |date=February 4, 2017 |publisher=BuzzFeed |quote=a heated argument has broken out about whether the march is making science too political — or whether it's not making science political enough |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/azeenghorayshi/is-science-political |access-date=February 8, 2017 |archive-date=February 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208233804/https://www.buzzfeed.com/azeenghorayshi/is-science-political |url-status=live }}

File:Bill Nye by Gage Skidmore.jpg , honorary co-chair]]

It was announced on March 30 that Bill Nye, Mona Hanna-Attisha, and Lydia Villa-Komaroff would headline the march, and serve as honorary co-chairs. The protest was set to occur on Earth Day,{{Cite news |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/march-for-science-set-for-earth-day/ |title=March for Science Set for Earth Day |work=Scientific American |last=Kahn |first=Brian |date=February 3, 2017 |access-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203163713/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/march-for-science-set-for-earth-day/ |url-status=live }} with satellite rallies planned in hundreds of cities across the world.

For the inaugural march in Washington, D.C., the National Committee consisted of (in alphabetic order):{{Cite web|date=April 21, 2017|title=March for Science|url=https://www.marchforscience.com/national-committee/|access-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421034335/https://www.marchforscience.com/national-committee/|archive-date=April 21, 2017}}

Sofia Ahsanuddin, Valorie V. Aquino, Jonathan Berman, Teon L. Brooks,{{Citation|title=March for Science chat with Mozilla Science Fellow, Teon Brooks|url=https://www.facebook.com/mozilla/videos/march-for-science-chat-with-mozilla-science-fellow-teon-brooks/10155126293402381/|language=en|access-date=April 17, 2021}} Beka Economopoulos, Kate Gage, Kristen Gunther, Kishore Hari, Sloane Henningsen, Rachael Holloway, Aaron Huertas, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Rosalyn LaPier, Julia MacFall, Adam Miller, Lina Miller, Caitlin Pharo, Jennifer Redig, Joanna Spencer-Segal, Lucky Tran, Courtnie Weber, Caroline Weinberg, and Amanda Yang.

These are the roles of the National Committee along with their teams:

During the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the largest scientific organization in the US, scientists held the "Rally to Stand Up for Science" at Copley Square, Boston, on February 19.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/scientists-hold-rally-boston-protest-threats-science-45598104 |title=Scientists hold rally in Boston to protest threat to science |publisher=ABC News |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222025039/http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/scientists-hold-rally-boston-protest-threats-science-45598104 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/02/18/scientists-feel-compelled-speak-out-trump/pJwmb99B5DdEyQA2T2dCLL/story.html |title=Scientists feel compelled to speak out on Trump |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=February 18, 2017 |access-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-date=February 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221191026/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/02/18/scientists-feel-compelled-speak-out-trump/pJwmb99B5DdEyQA2T2dCLL/story.html |url-status=live }} The same month, the AAAS announced its support for the march.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39024648 |title=AAAS chief puts weight behind protest march |first=Pallab |last=Ghosh |date=February 20, 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=June 22, 2018 |archive-date=October 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008221212/http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39024648 |url-status=live }} By mid-March, some 100 science organizations endorsed the March for Science, including many scientific societies. Endorsers of the march included the American Geophysical Union, American Association of Geographers, American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Society for Neuroscience, Society for Freshwater Science, American Statistical Association, Association for Psychological Science, American Sociological Association, Electrochemical Society, Entomological Society of America, California Academy of Sciences, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.{{Citation |first=Lindzi |last=Wessel |url=http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/02/will-they-or-won-t-they-what-science-groups-are-saying-about-joining-march-science |title=Updated: Some 100 groups have now endorsed the March for Science |journal=Science |date=March 15, 2017 |doi=10.1126/science.aal0697 |access-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-date=April 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427003643/http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/02/will-they-or-won-t-they-what-science-groups-are-saying-about-joining-march-science |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}

The University of Delaware Center for Political Communication conducted a survey of 1,040 members of March for Science Facebook groups or pages from March 31 to April 18 to study their motivations for joining the march.Peter Bothum, [http://www.labmanager.com/news/2017/04/march-participants-interested-in-both-promoting-defending-science March Participants Interested in Both Promoting, Defending Science] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427003211/http://www.labmanager.com/news/2017/04/march-participants-interested-in-both-promoting-defending-science |date=April 27, 2017 }}, University of Delaware News Office (April 21, 2017). Respondents cited the following as reasons for marching:

Before April, enthusiasts found existing knitting patterns for a hat shaped like a brain and proposed it as a symbol of solidarity for the march in analogy with the pussyhat project.{{cite web |url=http://www.racked.com/2017/4/11/15166094/march-for-science-hat-pussyhat-brain-resistor-dna |title=The March for Science searches for its pussyhat |first=Elizabeth |last=Preston |publisher=Racked |date=April 11, 2017 |access-date=April 22, 2017 |archive-date=April 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421233607/http://www.racked.com/2017/4/11/15166094/march-for-science-hat-pussyhat-brain-resistor-dna |url-status=live }}

{{main|List of 2017 March for Science locations|March for Science Portland|March for Science Seattle}}

File:March for Science, Washington, DC (33825703150).jpg

The primary march, organized by Earth Day Network and March for Science, in Washington, D.C., began at 10 AM with a rally and teach-in on the grounds of the Washington Monument, featuring speeches by concerned citizens alternating with scientists and engineers; including Denis Hayes, co-founder of the first Earth Day in 1970 and Bill Nye.{{cite news|title=Why people are marching for science: 'There is no Planet B'|author1=Joel Achenbach|author2=Ben Guarino|author3=Sarah Kaplan|date=April 22, 2017|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/big-turnout-expected-for-march-for-science-in-dc/2017/04/21/67cf7f90-237f-11e7-bb9d-8cd6118e1409_story.html|access-date=April 30, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430201011/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/big-turnout-expected-for-march-for-science-in-dc/2017/04/21/67cf7f90-237f-11e7-bb9d-8cd6118e1409_story.html|url-status=live}} No politicians spoke at the rally. At 2 PM the crowd of thousands, in spite of the steady rain throughout the day, proceeded down Constitution Avenue to 3rd Street, NW between the National Mall and the west front of the United States Capitol.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/22/science/march-for-science.html?_r=0|author=Nicholas St. Fleur|title=Scientists, Feeling Under Siege, March Against Trump Policies|access-date=April 30, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=April 22, 2017|archive-date=September 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903165936/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/22/science/march-for-science.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}

Protesters gathered in over a hundred cities across the globe, with an estimated 70,000 participants in Boston, Massachusetts, and over 150,000 in several cities in California.

File:Lydia Villa-Komaroff.jpg ]]Professor Robert Proctor of Stanford University said that the March for Science was similar to other efforts by scientists such as Physicians for Social Responsibility; however, the scale was larger because "there's a broader perception of a massive attack on sacred notions of truth that are sacred to the scientific community."{{Cite news |url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/article146169319.html |title=Historians say the March for Science is 'pretty unprecedented' |work=idahostatesman |access-date=April 22, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304173213/https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/article146169319.html |url-status=live }}File:March_for_Science_2017_El_Paso.jpg

On January 26, 2017, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont expressed his support for the march, congratulating "those scientists and researchers who are fighting back".{{cite news |last1=Firozi |first1=Paulina |title=Sanders applauds scientists 'fighting back' with planned DC march |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/316453-sanders-backs-scientists-fighting-back-with-planned-march-in-dc-science-is/ |work=The Hill |date=January 27, 2017 |access-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204124420/http://www.thehill.com/homenews/senate/316453-sanders-backs-scientists-fighting-back-with-planned-march-in-dc-science-is |url-status=live }} U.S. Representative Bill Foster of Illinois, a physicist and the only current member of Congress with a Ph.D. in a natural sciences field, will join the march, "not as a Democratic member of Congress, but as a scientist."Lev Gacher, [https://www.statnews.com/2017/04/05/bill-foster-scientist-congress-march/ Congress's one PhD-trained scientist will join march on Washington] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406170603/https://www.statnews.com/2017/04/05/bill-foster-scientist-congress-march/ |date=April 6, 2017 }}, Stat (April 5, 2017). Foster said that he viewed the march as political, but not partisan, saying, "if you see a specific policy that is inconsistent with the known principles of science, every citizen who is also a scientist should speak out."

In February the AAAS and other science groups announced their support for the march. Rush Holt Jr., the chief executive officer of the AAAS, expressed support for scientist involvement in politics. Holt also emphasizes the importance of "appreciation for and understanding of science in the general population".

{{quote|What's so interesting is it's the first time, I think, anybody can point to in decades where there has been a spontaneous effort to defend the idea of science. It's not a march pro or con GMOs or pro or con nuclear power. It's about the value of science and the power of evidence. People are understandably and correctly outraged that in so many areas of public policy ideology is crowding out evidence, that evidence seems to be optional in the fashioning of public policy, and that you have officials using phrases like alternative fact.|– Rush Holt{{cite journal |last1=Roberts |first1=Jacob |title=Political Scientist |journal=Distillations |date=2017 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=30–33 |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/political-scientist |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-date=April 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411174504/https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/political-scientist |url-status=live }}}}

The march received a torrent of criticism from conservative publications for the perceived left-wing bias and orientation of the event.{{Cite web | url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/21/march-science-comes-under-microscope-over-left-til/ | title=March for Science comes under microscope over left-tilting political agenda | website=The Washington Times | access-date=November 1, 2018 | archive-date=November 17, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117141228/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/21/march-science-comes-under-microscope-over-left-til/ | url-status=live }} Donald Trump's science adviser, climate change denier William HapperHannah Devlin, [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/15/trump-science-adviser-william-happer-climate-change-cult Trump's likely science adviser calls climate scientists 'glassy-eyed cult'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219110452/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/15/trump-science-adviser-william-happer-climate-change-cult |date=February 19, 2017 }}, The Guardian, February 15, 2017. stated that "there's no reason to assume the president is against science" and dismissed the march as a cult.

A number of scientists voiced concerns over the march. Theoretical physicist Sylvester James Gates warned that "such a politically charged event might send a message to the public that scientists are driven by ideology more than by evidence".{{cite news |last1=Flam |first1=Faye |author-link1=Faye Flam |title=Why Some Scientists Won't March for Science |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-03-07/why-some-scientists-won-t-march-for-science |access-date=March 8, 2017 |work=Bloomberg View |date=March 7, 2017 |archive-date=March 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307230048/https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-03-07/why-some-scientists-won-t-march-for-science |url-status=live }} Writing in The New York Times, Robert S. Young argued that the march will "reinforce the narrative from skeptical conservatives that scientists are an interest group and politicize their data, research and findings for their own ends" and that it would be better for scientists to "march into local civic groups, churches, county fairs and, privately, into the offices of elected officials."{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Robert S. |author-link1=Robert S. Young |title=A Scientists' March on Washington Is a Bad Idea |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/opinion/a-scientists-march-on-washington-is-a-bad-idea.html |access-date=March 8, 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 31, 2017 |archive-date=March 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307123333/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/opinion/a-scientists-march-on-washington-is-a-bad-idea.html |url-status=live }} Matthew Nisbet, writing for Skeptical Inquirer magazine right after the first march in 2017, states that it is not the least educated but the "best educated and most scientifically literate who are prone to biased reasoning and false beliefs about contentious science issues". In his opinion this will mean that the March will only deepen "partisan differences, while jeopardizing trust and impartiality and credibility of scientists". Nisbet feels that confidence in scientists is strong, and they should "use this capital wisely and effectively".{{cite journal |last1=Nisbet |first1=Matthew |title=The March for Science: Partisan Protests Put Public Trust in Scientists at Risk |journal=Skeptical Inquirer |date=2017 |volume=41 |issue=4 |pages=18–19 }}

Responding to criticism surrounding the political nature of the march, meteorologist and columnist Eric Holthaus wrote that the scientific field "has always been political" and referred to the example of Galileo Galilei's confrontation with the political order. Holthaus wrote that the scientists must also protest when "truth itself is being called into question".{{cite news |last1=Holthaus |first1=Eric |title=The March for Science Isn't 'Political'—It's a Defense of Basic Truth |url=https://psmag.com/the-march-for-science-isnt-political-it-s-a-defense-of-basic-truth-4aaf89ebbd4b#.lkbs4lmc6 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20170202023710/https://psmag.com/the-march-for-science-isnt-political-it-s-a-defense-of-basic-truth-4aaf89ebbd4b#.lkbs4lmc6 |url-status=dead|access-date=March 9, 2017 |work=Pacific Standard |date=February 1, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 }}

Discussing science's role in policy and government, Rush Holt points out a fallacy in viewing science and politics as philosophically incompatible: "The ethic in the profession is that you stick to your science, and if you're interested in how science affects public policy or public questions, just let the facts speak for themselves. Of course, there's a fallacy there, too. Facts are, by themselves, voiceless."

San Francisco Lead Organizer Kristen Ratan debated Jerry Coyne on KQED's Forum{{cite web |url=https://ww2.kqed.org/forum/2017/04/20/scientists-across-the-nation-trade-in-lab-coats-for-protest-signs |title=Scientists Across the Nation Trade in Lab Coats for Protest Signs |work=kqed.org |date=April 21, 2017 |access-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-date=April 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426023038/https://ww2.kqed.org/forum/2017/04/20/scientists-across-the-nation-trade-in-lab-coats-for-protest-signs/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.kqed.org/.stream/mp3splice/radio//2017/04/Forum20170422a.mp3 |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304173159/https://od1.kqed.org/mp3splice.kqed/radio/2017/04/Forum20170422a.mp3?listeningSessionID=5fd45ddf091ab54f_7125938_4ey04A4z__00000001HRc |url-status=live }} regarding his criticism of the March and remarked that the millennial generation is just finding its feet with regard to activism and should be encouraged. Ratan also distinguished between being political and being partisan and suggested that while the March for Science is a political act, it is by no means partisan, which implies blind allegiance to one party over another. Ratan reiterated that the March For Science supports evidence-based policy-making regardless of party or affiliation.

{{See also|March for Science 2018}}

Following the march, the organizers of the March for Science encouraged people to a "Week of Action" with an outline of daily actions.{{Cite news |url=https://www.marchforscience.com/blog/2017/4/23/announcing-the-week-of-action |title='I Marched For Science' - Introducing A Week of Action |work=March for Science |access-date=April 24, 2017 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424221343/https://www.marchforscience.com/blog/2017/4/23/announcing-the-week-of-action |archive-date=April 24, 2017 |url-status=dead }}

The following spring, Science not Silence: Voices from the March for Science Movement, was published by MIT Press.{{cite book|title=Science not Silence: Voices from the March for Science Movement|date=2018|publisher=The MIT Press|editor1-last=Fine Sasse|editor1-first=Stephanie|editor2-last=Tran|editor2-first=Lucky}} The book, edited by Stephanie Fine Sasse and Lucky Tran, featured stories and images from marches held around the globe. It was selected as one of the "World's Best Human Rights Books" of Spring 2018 by Hong Kong Free Press.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/07/02/worlds-best-human-rights-books-spring-2018/|title=The world's best human rights books: Spring 2018|last=Tsung-gan|first=Kong|date=July 2, 2018|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB|access-date=December 18, 2019|archive-date=September 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906024555/https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/07/02/worlds-best-human-rights-books-spring-2018/|url-status=live}}

In July 2018, March for Science created and hosted the SIGNS (Science in Government, Institutions & Society) Summit in Chicago, Illinois. The summit was co-hosted by Field Museum and brought together organizers from satellite marches to connect, strategize, and develop skills to bring back to their communities.{{Cite web |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/2018-march-science-will-be-far-more-street-protests |title=2018 March for Science will be far more than street protests | Science | AAAS |access-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925152754/https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/04/2018-march-science-will-be-far-more-street-protests |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://entomologytoday.org/2018/07/26/what-five-entomologists-learned-at-the-march-for-science-summit/ |title=What Five Entomologists Learned at the March for Science Summit |date=July 26, 2018 |access-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218074910/https://entomologytoday.org/2018/07/26/what-five-entomologists-learned-at-the-march-for-science-summit/ |url-status=live }} The program featured notable figures, including talks by Fabio Rojas, Brian Nord, Adia Benton, and Dana R. Fisher, as well as a poetry reading by Ed Roberson. Many sessions were recorded and are available to view online.{{Cite web |url=https://slideslive.com/signs-summit?feed=latest&page=1 |title=SIGNS2018 · SlidesLive |access-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803212156/https://slideslive.com/signs-summit?feed=latest&page=1 |url-status=live }}

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• Climate governance
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• {{Official website |https://www.marchforscience.com}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNz8GO-d9wI |title=March for Science Earth Day 2017 in Washington, D.C. |last=Earth Day Network |date=April 22, 2017 |access-date=April 25, 2017 |via=YouTube}} (5:39:07)
• {{cite AV media |first=Dieter |last=Rucht |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuhakz1aE |title=Standing Up For Science |date=February 8, 2018 |medium=Documentary |access-date=February 23, 2018 |via=YouTube}} (00:45:28)

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