Seattle March for Science expects thousands in the streets

More than 12,000 people have signed up for the Seattle March for Science slated for Saturday — Earth Day.

RELATED: Seattle convention underscores science world’s battle with Trump administration

The Seattle March for Science Facebook page boasts the expected numbers (another 24,000 have expressed interest in attending).

Here’s what you need to know:

• Starts at Cal Anderson Park around 10 a.m.
• Speakers include: Science Professor Tracie Delgado; Jonathan Tweet; Dr. Anne Egger; Congresswoman Suzan DelBene; Wildlife Expert Shawn Cantrell; Michael Cox; Seattle Mayor Ed Murray
• March starts at noon
• March will head to the International Fountain at the Seattle Center
• The route: Start Cal Anderson Park, move down Pike Street to 4th Avenue; turn north and follow 4th Avenue to the Seattle Center

If you’re planning on traveling through Seattle over Saturday morning and afternoon, plan ahead. As with any disruption to the roads, traffic will likely become snarled as backups occur.

Seattle March for Science

The Seattle March for Science is part of an international network of more than 600 marches aimed at sending a message to decision makers — science needs to be respected as the best method to understand the world and should be used to serve all people.

According to the March for Science website:

The March for Science is a celebration of science.  It’s not only about scientists and politicians; it is about the very real role that science plays in each of our lives and the need to respect and encourage research that gives us insight into the world.

Nevertheless, the march has generated a great deal of conversation around whether or not scientists should involve themselves in politics. In the face of an alarming trend toward discrediting scientific consensus and restricting scientific discovery, we might ask instead: can we afford not to speak out in its defense?

There is no Planet B. Join the #MarchForScience.

The website promotes that it is a nonpartisan group. But the worldwide marches come at a time when the Trump administration has moved to break America’s scientific backbone, making deep cuts to scientific agencies. The president has also been vocal about his lack of support for agencies like the EPA, which protects the environment and the health of Americans. He has also frequently doubted the threat of climate change — a phenomenon that is widely accepted by the world’s most valid, educated scientists.

There’s even a website — Trump vs Science — that displays all of the president’s anti-science tweets that have been proven false. It allows users to throw items at the tweets to knock them down.

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