April 28, 2017 at 5:13 p.m.
Over 200 march for science in Minocqua
Over 200 march for science in Minocqua
The march began at Calvary Lutheran Church in Minocqua and headed southbound one mile to Torpy Park, where a rally was held. At the rally, local activists shared personal sentiments and hard facts about the importance of scientific research and education.
This event echoed many across the United States on April 22, with Washington D.C.'s march drawing a crowd of 10,000.
The local event was organized primarily by the Northwoods Progressives, who have conducted many awareness-raising events in the past several months, including a rally expressing support for the Medicare for All bill on April 7.
"Science's core function is to use the imagination of the best minds to guess how things work, and then design tests to confirm or deny their ideas," Northwoods Progressives organizer Jerry Woolpy said. Woolpy holds a PhD in genetics from the University of Chicago and spent 29 as a professor at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. "It's how we discovered antibiotics, how we learned to fly, how we know Earth moves around the sun. Science is how we know there are a lot more galaxies than the Milky Way, and how the brain gives meaning to our bodies. That's how the United States became world leaders in discovery and innovation. It's what protects our curiosity and underlies our freedom, and it's authoritarian governments want to deny."
Doctors, students and those who have been directly impacted by advances in scientific technologies were given the opportunity to share why this plight is important to them, and what others can do to get involved.
"I'm marching for many reasons, but mostly for these young scientists in my lab. We're losing a generation of young, bright scientists because they see how hard it is to get funding and recognition from society that ultimately relies on them for the ongoing prosperity of mankind," Ryan Lieck of Rhinelander said addressing the crowd.
Lieck is currently a chemistry education student at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The march acted as a direct response to many of the cuts which would come under President Donald Trump's proposed budget.
One of the most notable cuts is the National Institutes of Health, who would see a 20 percent ($6 billion) decrease in federal funding under the new budget. The NIH is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research.
Other significant setbacks for science include an executive order that instructs the Environmental Protection Agency to weaken its Clean Power Plan.
The Clean Power Plan worked to replace coal power plants, with more sustainable resources, such as wind, solar and hydroelectric plants. Trump has also proposed to cut the EPA's budget by nearly one third.
Further, Trump's executive order alleviates federal government agencies from accounting for climate change when working on an action or project.
These changes, among countless other proposals, can be viewed at www.marchforscience.com.
The site also includes more information on why organizers decided to hold the march.
Evan Verploegh may be reached via email at [email protected].
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