PIXABAY, TUMISUSomething happened in science after the 2016 US presidential election. It wasn’t a great discovery—rather, a great awakening. Many scientists realized that there might be some problems with the new administration. Some started to speak up.
Then, the transition happened. In a short period of time, executive orders were signed, federal agencies were reportedly silenced, funds were frozen, and the scientific community lost its collective mind.
Scientists erupted in protest on social media. The Badlands National Park’s Twitter account went from around 10,000 followers to now more than 240,000 followers after posting facts about climate change (the tweets were later deleted). The March for Science was mobilized—first through Facebook—and will occur on Earth Day with satellite marches planned in more than 350 cities around the world. The nonprofit 314 Action, which is dedicated to helping scientists run for political office, has received a previously unseen level of interest from members of the scientific community.
In short, scientists are engaged like never ...
