FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Victoria joins global March for Science movement - April 22

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Published on Friday, 21 April 2017 14:45

Written by editor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Victoria joins global March for Science movement

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA (April 19, 2017) – On Earth Day 2017, Victoria’s scientific community will walk out of their labs, offices and classrooms to join nearly 400 marches in 37 countries in support of scientific freedom and evidence-based politics.

March for Science, Victoria BC will begin at Centennial Square on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 2:15pm. Science supporters of all backgrounds are invited to join to help support and celebrate science. Opening speakers will include Jay Cullen, Patrick von Aderkas and Andrew Weaver, science researchers at the University of Victoria, with further speakers to be announced.

Afterwards, the March for Science will continue to BC Legislature for a rally.

The March for Science represents an unprecedented gathering of citizens and scientists standing together to champion science that serves the common good, and the indispensable role it plays in our lives and communities. March for Science Victoria is marching in solidarity with the United States, Turkey, and throughout the world, but also to protect the scientific and political environment in Canada.

March for Science, Victoria BC aims to:

• stand up for academic freedom and the right of all scientist to communicate results freely.

• support science and evidence-based politics and policy making.

• demand that public support for research is based on scientific merit, not political agenda.

• protect the right of every person to engage with, learn from, and help shape science.

“The March for Science is a protest about continued neglect,” says biologist Patrick von Aderkas. “Evidence-based policymaking is only possible when scientific contributions are valued. Today, scientific work is often overlooked, undervalued and ignored. Governments both provincial and national have developed not only methods to ignore evidence, but to isolate scientists. How is this possible in a country that depends on the work of engineers, medical physicists, biologists, and other specialists?”

Friends and Sponsors of Victoria BC’s March for Science include the University of Victoria Faculty Association, the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS), UVic Evidence for Democracy, Sierra Club, BC, Social Environmental Alliance (SEA), Dogwood Initiative, Ancient Forest Alliance, Wilderness Committee and The Planetary Society.

Further information & updates on March for Science, Victoria: Facebook: Earth Day- March for Science, Victoria BC posters and invites

On the global movement: www.marchforscience.com

Media contacts: Esme Friesen, University of Victoria Faculty Association 250-721-7208, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Patrick von Aderkas, University of Victoria 250-721-8925, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.