March for Science 22 April at 2 PM

On Saturday 22 April the March of Science will take place around the world. UNIS is hosting the Longyearbyen march, which will start at 2 PM outside the Svalbard Science Centre. All are welcome to join!

20 April 2017
Press release from the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)

March for Science invites all those who are committed to a knowledge-based society, independent research and unequivocal research dissemination to participate.

The March for Science will take place in over 500 cities worldwide – including Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund!

In Longyearbyen, UNIS is hosting the March for Science. The event starts at 2 PM on Saturday outside the Svalbard Science Centre, before participants will march up Road 500 to Road 221 before turning into the pedestrian street (see map). The march will conclude in the city center by the miner’s statue where there will be appeals held by students and by Kim Holmén, international director at the Norwegian Polar Institute.

All are invited to join us in this celebration of science!

About the March for Science
Scientific knowledge is a global shared asset we as a society depend entirely on in all key areas: education, healthcare, job and career opportunities and the environment our children grow up in. We use science to understand the world around us and science helps us develop further.

Our common knowledge base is under pressure. We are in a hurry from strong political and economic forces who want to control the direction and results of research, researchers are under pressure or threatened to disseminate research results, and “false news” abounds in the media to undermine scientific findings. When we no longer agree on what is true, it becomes impossible to have meaningful debates and to work towards common goals.

We march for the right to drive science, disseminate science, collaborate to build on the best knowledge we have, think critically and promote sustainable decisions based on scientific facts. Access to quality assured knowledge for all is the backbone of a democratic society.

The March for Science champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and for political leaders and policy makers to enact evidence based policies in the public interest.

#Marchforscience
www.marchforscience.com