A march for science in Washington [and everywhere in the world]!

_{[image credits: #ScienceMarch]}

I have hesitated a lot before writing this article. I am not a big fan of politics. If you want me to discuss politics, you should either offer me a coffee, or a beer. There was no other way out… until this exception (let us hope it will be the only one).

What is going on in the US is really matter of getting worried on many different aspects. I will only focus on the science part. This being said, I do not say the other, non-science, related issues are less or more important. There is no reason to rank anything here…

The US government has last week announced to restrict science funding on the one hand, and to restrict scientists from communicating on their finding. Although we are used to funding restrictions both in the US and everywhere else in the world, the latter is totally new.

Forbidding scientists to communicate with the public makes no sense. In particular as research is mostly funded with tax-payer money… it is not up to governments to decide how we should communicate our results and whether we can communicate them.

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As a result, the #ScienceMarch movement is arising. It concerns scientists, of course, but also anyone for which empirical research and science are important. Anyone who values science can join. Anyone who values the methodology and way of thinking of science can join.

American colleagues are getting organized, ready to react, and those living elsewhere, like me, are actually organizing support as well. A march of scientists is getting organized in Washington. Satellite marches everywhere in the US are getting organized as well, and in fact everywhere in the world (including Paris) too!

I will not make this story long. I think I summarized the main points above. More information can be found here:

• Website: http://www.scientistsmarchonwashington.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marchforscience
• Twitter: @ScienceMarchDC

Do not hesitate to further discuss in the comments!