On April 22, also known as Earth Day, a march in Washington D.C and 360 other cities were held and called the “Science Marches.” Thousands of scientists and their supporters, feeling increasingly threatened by the policies of President Trump, gathered Saturday in Washington under rainy skies trying to abandon a tradition of keeping the sciences out of politics and calling on the public to stand up for scientific enterprise.

As the marchers trekked shoulder-to-shoulder toward the capitol, the street echoed with their calls: “Save the E.P.A.” and “Save the N.I.H.” as well as their chants celebrating science, “Who run the world? Nerds,” and “If you like beer, thank yeast and scientists!” Some carried signs that showed rising oceans and polar bears in peril and faces of famous scientists like Mae Jemison, Rosalind Franklin and Marie Curie, and others touted a checklist of the diseases Americans no longer get thanks to vaccines. Among the masses was famous scientist, Bill Nye, most famously known for his video segments, “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

The science department is a highly valued asset of the Pleasant Valley school district. From biology to anatomy, students have a wide variety of science courses to choose from, each class expanding students’ scientific knowledge. Ali Staver, senior, says, “I loved the anatomy and physiology class I took last year, because it taught me so much about the way the human body functions and prepared me well for my future in the medical field.”

This global science march creates awareness and publicity to the ever-decreasing funds the science departments receive in school districts around the nation. Hannah Thomas, junior, says, “I believe the science march is a good thing because it brings attention to an issue between our government and science department within our school district. Science is an important part of life and I believe that it is underappreciated and needs to be addressed.”