On April 22, Earth Day 2017, the citizens of the world are invited to participate in a massive “March for Science.” The initiative was launched by US scientists in response to “new policies [that] threaten to further restrict scientists’ ability to carry out research and communicate their findings.”
As directors of public research institutions, we uphold the idea that “Science is a process, not a product — a tool for discovery that allows us to constantly expand and refine our knowledge of the Universe.” We too face the problem of working with restricted budgets, and share the organizers’ conviction that “de-funding and hiring freezes in the sciences are against any country’s best interests.”
For these reasons, we fully support the initiative of this public-spirited march for the sciences.
Jean Chambaz, President of CURIF (Coordination of French Research-Intensive Universities)
Alain Fuchs, President of CNRS
Yves Lévy, CEO of INSERM
Philippe Mauguin, CEO of INRA
Antoine Petit, Managing Director of INRIA
Daniel Verwaerde, Chairman of the CEA
For further information:
https://www.marchforscience.com
In France, marches are scheduled in Paris, Lille, Lyon, Toulouse and Montpellier.
