Scientific community set to march for science

After having missed the figurative bus in joining the global March for Science last year, this time around scientists will rally on April 14 to ‘celebrate science’ in an atmosphere of obscurantism.

Malleswaram 18th Cross ground, with its close proximity to major research institutions of the city, will host the second March for Science. This time, scientists have answered the clarion call raised by global peers — similar marches will be held not only in major towns of the country, but also across the globe.

Breakthrough Science Society, which is organising the march, acknowledged that nothing much has changed in terms of the science policy over the past year. Some of the key demands are stopping the propagation of obscurantism and unscientific ideas, allocation of a higher share of the GDP on research and ensuring a science-based policy.

According to members of the community, numerous incidents have challenged the scientific temper since the last march in August 2017 ( in picture ).   | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy;V Sreenivasa Murthy -

Since the last march in August 2017, numerous incidents have challenged the scientific temper: Union Minister of State Satyapal Singh raised a storm when he called the Theory of Evolution ‘scientifically wrong’; Union Minister Harsh Vardhan claimed the cosmologist Stephen Hawking had said that the Vedas held a theory ‘superior’ to Einstein’s theory; and an attempt to conduct an astrology workshop in the Indian Institute of Science.

“The march is a celebration of science and will send a message to policy-makers that science is too important to be ignored,” said S. Mahadevan, Professor, Molecular Reproduction, Development & Genetics, IISc., Bengaluru. “Society, across the globe, is becoming fundamentalist and is moving more and more away from rational and calm thinking. Through the march, the scientific community can come together and celebrate science,” he said.

Ramesh Londonkar, a professor at Gulbarga University, is travelling to the city to extend his support for the gathering. “The scientific community can’t sit quietly any longer. While irrational thoughts have always been around, now, science funding is in trouble. Before, we could get about half the funds required for projects from the government. Now, we get nothing,” he said.

He remains optimistic about India’s participation in the global march. “Each year, if we gather in large numbers, the government will have to listen to the scientific community,” he said.

The gathering, to be held between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on April 14, will pay homage to scientist Stephen Hawking and noted science writer J.R. Lakshman Rao.