Editorial – Physicists marched for science
The global event « March for Science » took place on 22 April 2017 in 500 cities worldwide, including 20 in France. More than 5000 people took part in the march organised in Paris, including many directors of large research centres and members of the French Academy of Sciences. The March for Science has 4 main objectives:
- Ensure the independence of scientists in their research activity
- Promote the dialogue between science and society
- Strengthen the public understanding of science and scientific education
- Highlight the role of science in evidence based policy making
The physicists in Paris displayed a banner showing the logos of the Société Française de Physique, and the European Physical Society as well as that of the March for Science. The physicists defended the fundamental values of science:
- the integrity of scientists, necessary to the process of discovery
- creativity, coupled with excellence, emulation and professionalism
- collaboration, including the recognition that scientific research benefits from a multicultural and multinational environment in addition to balanced representation of men and women
- the responsibility of scientists to engage with the general public and include them in citizen science initiatives
The people that took part in March for Science expressed, in particular, the view that science, with its values, leads to a multicultural dialogue based on constructive reality and contributes to build and preserve social, cultural and economic well-being around the world.
Our message, I think, was well received by the numerous representatives of the media that were present.
Michel Spiro
President of the French Physical Society
