Andrea Lucky, Ph.D., assistant research scientist, insect systematics, at the University of Florida, traveled to Washington, DC, to take part in the March for Science. (Photo credit: Joe Rominiecki/ESA)

On Saturday, entomologists stood up for science. In cities around the world, they gathered with scientists of myriad disciplines and non-scientists as well to remind the world about the critical role of science in human progress.

Some traveled from a great distance to participate in the flagship March for Science in Washington, DC, while many others marched in their own communities, at one of the more than 600 global satellite marches. In 41 of those cities, an entomologist volunteered to share ESA’s March for Science buttons, stickers, and informational flyers with their colleagues and fellow marchers. And in DC, several dozen entomologists turned out for a pre-march meetup and walked together to the March for Science rally by the Washington Monument.

The day was the culmination of a grassroots movement in the scientific community, to which ESA and many other scientific societies and organizations lent their support. Of course, the mission to preserve and promote science’s place in society is constant; one march on one day doesn’t change everything. But, if nothing else, Saturday made it unmistakable that scientists around the world—entomologists included—have found their voice.

In the Nation’s Capital

Photo credit: Glenn Cook/ESA

A boisterous band of insect scientists gathered at ESA’s member rally in Washington, DC, Saturday morning and then made their way down to the grounds of the Washington Monument, stopping along the way for a picture by the White House.

Photo credit: Glenn Cook/ESA

Rain began around 10 a.m. and continued most of the day, but it did not dampen the spirits of those who came to the rally. The lineup on the main stage was a mix of scientists, authors, students, media personalities, and musicians, reflecting the great diversity of people who practice science and know its power. Among them was entomologist Jessica L. Ware, Ph.D., assistant professor at Rutgers University-Newark:

After the rally, the crowd proceeded to the corner of 15th Street and Constitution Avenue, where the march began, and trekked across the city to finish the day in front of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Photo credit: Joe Rominiecki/ESA

Elsewhere

While DC marchers were headed to bed the night before, the March for Science got started on the other side of the world, in places like Canberra, Australia:

'Be nice to spiders' I think there might be an entomologist in this family #MarchForScience #Canberra #CBR pic.twitter.com/RW2NRz0Ji4

— Jolene Laverty (@Jolene_Laverty) April 22, 2017

In the United States, ESA President Susan Weller, Ph.D., (at left in the picture below) marched in Lincoln, Nebraska.

@EntsocAmerica Ready to march in Lincoln, Nebraska! #Swarm4Science #ScienceMarch pic.twitter.com/DSevuBktRc

— Julie Peterson (@PetersonInsects) April 22, 2017

In Bozeman, Montana, ESA Vice President-Elect Bob Peterson, Ph.D., spoke at the rally on the campus of Montana State University:

In Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, ESA Past President May Berenbaum, Ph.D., was atop the list of speakers at the rally on the campus of the University of Illinois, where she offered “nine reasons why science would be an awful boyfriend”:

And in San Francisco, ESA members including Chris Beatty, Ph.D., president of the ESA Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity Section; Tara Roth, Ph.D. (center in photo below); and others hosted an entomology booth at the pre-march Science Fair:

@EntsocAmerica #marchforscience visitors to the ESA booth get a primer on tick ecology! pic.twitter.com/cKxBA90Lsk

— Doc_Beatty (@ChrisDBeatty) April 22, 2017

In the News

Several entomologists spoke to media about insect science and the March for Science both in advance and after the event:

• How The March For Science Finally Found Its Voice, The Atlantic
• Why They March: “Science and Scientists Are Now Under Attack”, The Intercept
• “This Is Not A Partisan Issue:” Here’s What Participants In “March for Science” Had To Say, WLRN Miami
• Voices From Science Marches in California and the Nation, KQED Science
• Scientists to leave the labs and ‘March for Science’ in Sacramento, Sacramento Bee
• A march for science? Farm Industry News
• Insects and the Food Industry, ABC10 Sacramento
• UC Davis scientists participating in March for Science, Daily Democrat (Woodland, California)
• More than 1,000 expected to March for Science Saturday, KITV4 Hawaii
• March for Science Hawaii Earth Day 2017, ThinkTech Hawaii
• March for Science: Soggy Marchers Rally for Science-Based Policy, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
• What happened at March for Science events around the world, Nature
• Thousands March for Science across Hawaiʻi, University of Hawai’i News

More Highlights

Check out @EntsocAmerica and #Swarm4Science on Twitter for more from the march. And see the ESA Flickr page for a gallery of photos from the march (also embedded above).

You can also download PDF versions of the flyers that ESA distributed to volunteers at satellite marches and in DC:

• ESA Supports Advocacy
• Science Policy: What Can You Do Next?
• Science Literacy and the Entomological Foundation

Today, ESA joined dozens of other scientific societies and organizations in a joint statement to commend the March for Science and to vow to build on the momentum created by the event.

Stay tuned to the ESA Science Policy Program for more news and updates on the Society’s ongoing advocacy work and for opportunities to get involved, such as the Science Policy Fellows program (applications for the next class are due June 1).

Later this year, look for a major focus on science communication in the lineup of programs and symposia at Entomology 2017 in Denver, as well as a special collection on science communication in Annals of the Entomological Society of America that will be published in coordination with the conference.

And, to follow the continuation of the March for Science movement, visit www.marchforscience.com.