March for Science — Santa Barbara: A Participant’s Perspective
I marched for science and I liked it
Many of us support causes by donations, writing our representatives and a myriad of other ways. That has been how I’ve participated and supported causes in the past. This was my first march. It was great. Being with what turned out to be thousands of people, all in accord on supporting science and evidence-based decisions, felt good. Well, almost all in accord, more on that later…
The event started off with Richard Diaz Corral, a member of the Chumash Nation, speaking about respecting the earth, and performing a Four Corners Song of encouragement prior to the speakers taking the stage. At first that seemed odd for a science march, but then it seemed perfect. It was Earth Day and Santa Barbara has a history with the Chumash. Somehow that made it all fit.
Then the speakers took the stage. First up was Susan Epstein of the Goleta Union School District board, who emceed the event. She thanked the organizers, local Santa Barbara City College students Jorie Mitchell and Hannah Armer, and introduced all the speakers. Between the talks, she engaged the crowd with a science trivia question whose prize was a pencil, when sharpened to a nub, will reveal a seed for planting. My favorite question was “What is Avogadro’s number including scientific notation?”
State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson led off the speakers followed by Dr. Karl Hutterer, Emeritus Director at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History; Dr. Denise Knapp, Director of Conservation & Research at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden; Dr. Debora Iglesias Rodiguez, UCSB Professor/Researcher; Santa Barbara Mayor, Helene Schneider; and they saved the best for last Dr. Reanne Napolean, SBCC Chemistry Professor.
As it was Earth Day, I expected all the speakers to address climate change, and I was not disappointed. But in addition to climate change, many also spoke to the current administration’s budget cuts to vital scientific agencies, and appointments of individuals who are not in tune with the science at the agencies they head. As you might guess Senator Jackson hit that fairly hard (glad I voted for her 😉) . On a lighter note, the emcee revealed that the mayor was a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the mayor managed to work in a Buffy reference. Nice. But pop culture aside, the main theme was critical thinking, being evidence based, and funding science. There was also a minor theme of supporting candidates that respect science or running for office ourselves. I was cheering and raising my sign so often my arm got tired. But still the only science mentioned in any detail was climate science. I was pretty much resigned to that, when the last speaker knocked it out of the park.
Dr. Napolean spoke to science in general for all citizens, and then eloquently addressed vaccines and more. Diseases that devastated us are no longer seen, such as smallpox, rubella, polio and others. This is because science has prevented us from getting these diseases via vaccines. Now, some of them are making a comeback because of science denial. The dangers of embracing pseudoscience was a main theme, as was using critical thinking to avoid that trap. She also emphasized that when the scientific community agrees upon a data set, believe it. GMOs even got a mention. It was as if my sign had come to life. She nailed every point I was hoping to hear. Fantastic final speaker! If you are interested in a live video of the presentations, one was recorded by Colton Dickson.
Speaking of my sign. I got quite a few complements on having GE-crops included. That felt good. But I also had vaccines on my sign which attracted a couple of anti-vaccine folks there to promote the propaganda film Vaxxed. Now I’m a patient sort and try to politely engage when on-line, but I lost my composure during their thankfully brief visit. One of them started in on vaccines ingredients like formaldehyde (that metabolite found throughout your body), when they pointed to what appeared to be a contrail in the sky. They then launched into talking about chemtrails, really, chemtrails. I was so taken aback that I laughed out loud. I couldn’t help it. I’d seen such nonsense on-line but this was my first in-person encounter. Shortly after the speakers started, and having been shushed a few times, they left my vicinity. Which was for the best as they would have not appreciated my, and the crowd, cheering during Dr. Napolean’s talk.
This event was far better than I expected. Even encountering the anti-vaxxers added to the experience, seeing as how their science denial was so soundly addressed from the podium. Even if this only results in memorializing the day as that time scientists and science enthusiasts marched in support of science and evidence based policymaking around the world, it would be enough. I’m glad to have been a part of it, but my hope is that this momentum will move forward, with scientists no longer willing to sit on the sidelines. I’ll be doing my small part; from sharing my enthusiasm for science via my science page, posting about regulations that are open for comments, and routinely writing my state and national representatives. I encourage everyone to stand up for Science! See you at the next March.
My photos from the event are posted here and be sure to check out the March for Science — Santa Barbara event page.
