More than 100 'Stand up for Science' at U of A rally

The rally was one of many across the country Friday to protest the Trump administration’s orders targeting federal research funding.

“There is the science that is curing cancer and disease and exploring Mars and helping to solve climate change, but it’s also the largest community of learning,” said Kirsten Engel, a UA professor of law and a former Democratic candidate for Congress, addressing the noon rally on the UA mall.

“If we don’t have publicly funded science, it’s not like there’s going to be no science, folks. There is going to be privately funded science that will not be available to society, that will not be subject to peer review and will only be used for profit and not the greater good,” Engel said. “So, we are going to be standing up for public values and for science for the people.”

The crowd, which included UA faculty, researchers, students, alumni and other scientists, gathered in warm jackets and scarfs on the rainy Friday.

Chanting the phrase, “Science Saves Lives,” they held signs saying: “Fund Science Not Billionaires,” “Science Not Silence,” “The World Is Watching,” “Science is what makes the U.S.’ future great,” “The People Will Defeat Trump’s Billionaire Agenda,” and more.

Dianne Patterson, a UA staff scientist in neuroimaging who was a main organizer of the rally, said she didn’t know what to expect while putting the word out. Patterson, who said this was her first participation in a political rally, said she decided to take the initiative because she doesn’t want her grandson growing up in a political state of autocracy.

Patterson pointed to the location of the rally — the USS Arizona Memorial to those killed on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

“This site honors the lives lost more than 80 years ago in an unprovoked and devastating attack on our nation,” said Patterson, addressing the rally crowd. “Our country rose to the challenge of protecting our values with bravery and science. We are here to remind the world of how crucial science is to our survival.”

The rally began with speeches by Patterson, Engel, Lynn Nadel, Christopher Impey and Scott Saleska, all UA professors and researchers, after which audience members were invited to speak.

One audience member wondered aloud if UA President Suresh Garimella, a researcher in the fields of electronics thermal management and energy efficiency, had an official and public stance on the Trump administration’s orders to cut federal research funding.

“I can’t speak for the university. I hope they’re listening, I hope they feel empowered by what they’re hearing from their own students and faculty here,” said Engel. “They are in a tough spot, obviously. There’s so much money that’s on the line that supports this university, but I do think that they’re hearing from people in their own community about what these impacts are going to have. And as Scott (Saleska) said, complying in advance is the pathway to tyranny and I hope they’re hearing that.”

Garimella released a note to the UA community Feb. 18, stating the administration’s intention to “continue to adhere to all applicable laws at the local, state and federal levels.” He said the UA would take a proactive approach toward ensuring compliance with the new federal policies and procedures.

In the announcement, Garimella said the UA would take inventory of its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-related programs, jobs and activities. This was to determine how to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s Feb. 14 mandate, instructing all educational institutions to stop race-conscious admissions, financial aid, hiring, training and more or lose federal funding.

The Trump administration has also issued federal orders impacting research funding from agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Defense Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

“I think it’s really hitting home now, as people are seeing grants being cancelled, people being fired, how important these programs are to our public universities and to science, (how) it has been under attack by this (Trump) administration, and what impacts it will have on our community and the world,” said Engel.