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Why I'm marching for science 'The alternative, doing nothing, is unthinkable'

Anyone who supports scientific research, evidence-based policies and equality should take a stand too, writes Dr Joseph Roche.

ON SATURDAY APRIL 22, scientists from all over Ireland will be gathering at Grand Canal Square before marching to Government Buildings.

They will be marching to celebrate their passion for science and as a call to support and safeguard the scientific community and evidence-based policy. It will be one of more than 400 marches taking place around the world on April 22. Fittingly, it also marks “Earth Day” — an annual event that promotes environmental protection and changing human behaviour.

The main march will be in Washington DC and is a reaction to the growing concern among the scientific community that irreparable damage could be done by a US administration that does not seem to value scientific research or evidence-based policies.

A controversial movement borne out of problematic policy changes

The initial idea to march for science can be traced back to the social news aggregation website Reddit. In response to the removal of references to climate change on the White House website in late January, a Reddit user suggested marching for science.

The idea quickly took root and a global movement was born. As well as its rapid growth, another defining aspect of the March for Science is how it became a contentious issue among scientists.

Some feel that science has always been political and will become even more so over the years ahead. While many feel that there is no choice but to stand up for science and defend its future, others argue that a mass public demonstration by scientists might speed up the politicisation of science and ultimately do more harm than good.

Marching for diversity, inclusivity and choice

Although the scientific community is largely nonpartisan, it recognises that its core strengths are its diversity and inclusivity.

Any threats to those values are threats to scientific progress. In a letter published in the Journal of Science Communication recently, I asked if scientists in Ireland should be more politically active.

While scientists in the US have been protesting against laws that remove nondiscrimination protections as well as the proposed travel bans barring immigration from Muslim-majority countries, Ireland has its own laws that violate human rights.

The March for Science represents an ideal opportunity to have our voices heard. Like our colleagues in the US, we could use our academic positions as platforms to advocate for equality as well as for science itself.

The March for Science in Ireland

In an ideal world scientists could remain apolitical, but in the current climate that is becoming increasingly difficult.

We are lucky that in Ireland the march is being spearheaded by Dr Shaun O’Boyle, a scientist and science communicator, whose experience and diplomacy has ensured that March for Science in Ireland has not been affected by some of the issues that have plagued the wider movement.

Together with his dedicated team, Dr O’Boyle has managed to navigate the political quagmire by making people and communities the focus of the event.

March with us

Ultimately, scientists will be joined by science advocates and concerned citizens to march on April 22nd because the alternative — doing nothing — is unthinkable.

The time might have come for us to not only stand up for science, but to stand up for the values that are critical to scientific progress. We invite anyone who supports scientific research, evidence-based policies and equality to take a stand and be counted with us.

Dr Joseph Roche is an Astrophysicist and Assistant Professor in Science Education at Trinity College Dublin. He coordinates the Master in Science Education programme at Trinity College and tweets as @joeboating. To hear more about the March for Science in Ireland you can follow @ScienceMarchIE.

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21 Comments
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    Mute Roy Mitchell
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:05 PM

    Interesting piece. I hope the author is right about this Dail.
    I really think the Journal should do more pieces like this by first time TDs. It’s give people an insight into what it’s really like in there!

    105
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    Mute Seamus Ryan
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:14 PM

    Worth reading. Cheers for taking the time to write it, Stephen.

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    Mute Seán Cafferkey
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:22 PM

    Great column. I always wondered what it was like for a first TD in the Dail

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    Mute Kiki Dee
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:26 PM

    Very interesting piece Stephen. I really enjoyed reading it. :)

    37
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    Mute Maureen Kelly
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:05 PM

    Really enjoyed that! Let’s have some more!! How about asking Ming? :)

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    Mute Jeff Rudd
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:02 PM

    Cheers Stephen. Great writing and eye opening stuff.
    More please?

    24
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    Mute damian
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:03 PM

    Good article and a nice insight into the day to day workings of the Dail that we rarely get a chance to hear about…

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    Mute Aoife O'Connor
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:08 PM

    An interesting and enlightening read. Too few TDs realise how little most of us know about what they do and how they do it, so it’s nice to have a little insight.

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    Mute Mark Dennehy
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    Jul 21st 2011, 1:23 PM

    Legislation is complex (often mind bogglingly so). So in order to research and debate legislation properly, you need to know what the legislation is – in advance.

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    Mute sure2bsure
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    Jul 22nd 2011, 5:25 AM

    I’m just curious. I thought legislation was drafted by senior civil servants with the aid of the states legal people. Surely if they need specialist advice they can just pay for it?

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    Mute Mark Dennehy
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    Jul 22nd 2011, 4:25 PM

    Who would you pay to get specialist advice on civilian firearms ownership in Ireland?
    Other than civilian firearms owners (who’ve been trying to give them that advice for free for nearly forty years now), that is.

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    Mute Simon Cunnane
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    Jul 21st 2011, 4:10 PM

    Excellent article.

    I’ve been consistently impressed with Stephen Donnelly since I first saw him on “Tonight With Vincent Browne” last January. He is articulate, knowledgeable and has the qualifications to back up most of what he says. The electorate clearly warmed to that and in four and a half months, it’s very interesting to get this sort of insight into the workings of Dáil Eireann from him.

    More of this from TheJournal.ie please.

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    Mute Noel Carroll
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    Jul 21st 2011, 4:10 PM

    Maybe it’s just me but just because you’re a TD, it doesn’t give journalists the right to ask for your private number, and you have the right to refuse. Who of us in our jobs would gladly give out our private numbers to clients or associates? Who of us would be happy to have a third party volunteer that information after we said no. That journalist needs to be outer as a bulky and as someone who has risen above their station.

    13
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    Mute Noel Carroll
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    Jul 21st 2011, 4:11 PM

    I did mean the journalist should be outed as a bully :).

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    Mute James Gaffney
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    Jul 21st 2011, 6:18 PM

    Politicians and journalists share mobile numbers all the time, it’s a quid pro quo, sometimes politicians want to publicise an issue quickly and like to have instant access to a trusted journalist and vice versa, sometimes a journalist wants to get an instant reaction to a story from a politician, having each other’s mobiles just makes life easier for both parties. Politicians should realise that in this era of mass communications, they have to be accessible to the media. For the record I do give my mobile out to clients and associates and have no problem with it.

    Saying that, I agree with you that it was bad form out of the journalist in question to first of all get his number from a colleague and secondly to whine about it the next day in the paper, talk about a non-story.

    Fair play to Stephen Donnelly, a very interesting piece. I liked your train metaphor, something we can all relate to, and hopefully your comments on the Dáil as an echo chamber will echo loudly around the corridors of power until something is done to improve the situation.

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    Mute Oisín Ó Dálaigh
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    Jul 21st 2011, 3:34 PM

    Thank you for writing what is a really excellent and informative piece, and it confirmed what I thought regarding the true nature of Dáil debate.

    Would love to hear more insights from Stephen as his time serving progresses.

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    Mute Aoife O'Connor
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    Jul 21st 2011, 4:09 PM

    I’d love to know who’s thumbs-downing the people who are basically going “Hmm, that’s interesting, I didn’t know that before” and why they’re doing it.

    Care to leave a comment with your reasons, red-thumb ninjas?

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    Mute Aidan Molloy
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    Jul 21st 2011, 3:25 PM

    Within minutes, he’d got it from another journalist; by that evening, I was being badmouthed in the Dáil bar; and next morning, it was in the paper. Oops. – Stinks of NOTW carry on.

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    Mute Daithi Linnane
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    Jul 21st 2011, 2:00 PM

    Can’t wait to read his inevitable book on Dáil Reform

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    Mute Loraine Byrne
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    Jul 22nd 2011, 5:38 PM

    Well done Stephen, proud to have given you a vote. Everything I’ve seen of your time in the dail has been progressive- including this article- keep up the excellent juggling!

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