March for Science in Chicago, April 22, 2017KERRY GRENSOn April 22nd, the March for Science drew hundreds of thousands of participants to 610 satellite marches around the world. The most unique feature of the march—scientists and science allies becoming vocal participants in a protest movement—was surprisingly the easiest thing to materialize. Getting the activist community to temper its passionate prior beliefs was a lot harder.
Experienced activists know the value of a wide tent. You build movements, they’ll tell you, by letting as many groups as possible sign on, letting as many ideas and agendas as possible into the fold. There’s truth in that. Working with experts and those with experience in this space is appealing. After all, the culture of science encourages collaborations, and the world of activism ignites the public to action. People arrive at political beliefs in a lot of ways, and not all of them are evidence-based.
However, a striking instance of the dangers we face in terms of beliefs co-opting science came when an organization that promotes the idea of “intelligent design” attempted to partner with the March for Science. Intelligent design is one of ...
