March for science against “science as opinion”

Following in the footsteps of American researchers, Dutch scientists are holding a March for Science in Amsterdam on Saturday. They stand up for science, along with their colleagues, students and concerned citizens from across the country. Dean of Erasmus University Faculty Martin Frijnes is one of the initiators.

It is increasingly said in public debate that science is “just opinion.” Liberal science is therefore at risk, say academics from around the world. In defense of independent and unfettered research, the March for Science will be organized this weekend in nearly five hundred cities, including Amsterdam and Maastricht.

In the Amsterdam edition, on Saturday afternoon in the museum square, researchers will give speeches on topics such as climate, migration and health. According to brain researcher and EUC Dean Martin Frijns, all kinds of lies and “alternative facts” are being spread about this topic.

These manifestations come primarily in response to the position of US President Donald Trump, who, according to the organization, is openly discrediting science.

Ference emphasizes that science is not only subject to severe criticism in the United States. He points to the plight of academics in Turkey, the Hungarian Central European University threatened with closure, and the desire of the House of Representatives to conduct research into political preferences at Dutch universities.

Many organizations support the march “morally and financially”, including Dutch universities and colleges. The National Union of Students is also participating. “We believe that independent science is very important,” says Jarmo Berkhout, president of LSVb, who will give a speech on education on Saturday.

Although he does not dare to say exactly how many people will come, Barkhout hopes that the turnout will be good. “At the Facebook event, the counter, including interested parties, is nearly three thousand. Experience shows that you have to roughly divide this number by three, and then you arrive at about a thousand people.

The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) is conspicuously absent from the list of official expressions of support. The Society supports the initiative “morally”, but, like the research funder, the NWO, adopts an officially neutral position.

“Many opinions of political activists are likely to be expressed. There is nothing wrong with that, but as advisors to the government, we are not expected to be categorically for or against,” KNAW president Jos van Dijk explained when asked. She will show her face on Saturday at Museum Square, where she will stand behind the KNAW booth with vice president Wim van Saarloos.

The Amsterdam Science March runs on Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Check the official website for more information.