On April 22, Ugandan scientists and their supporters joined in a worldwide event — the March for Science — aimed at reminding the public and lawmakers of the importance of using scientific evidence when making policy and funding decisions. The main march took place inย Washington D.C., but was joined by supporters in more than 600 communities around the world. In Uganda, the event offered a chance forย a community of scientists to step away from their work on sweet potatoes and “NEWEST” rice to bring the public’s attention to the importance of their research. It was also an opportunityย to use Earth Day to remind everyone that scientists, too, areย โfriends of the Earthโ.ย In Uganda, it was notable that the event was heavily flavored by young scientists stepping out into theย public.
It was a chilly morning following a heavy downpour that lasted for nearly 3 hours. The march kicked off atย Makerere University College of Natural Sciences. Uganda’s oldest universityย isย home to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree inย biotechnology, which has been offered for a decade. Two studentsย studying biotechnology answered questions aboutย why they thought the march was necessary and whether theyย were aware of the global debate surrounding theย products of the profession.
Reasons for marching
Aisha Namugalu, a first year student, said she came out to march because of a love of science and biotechnology.ย However, she said she was not aware of the global debate over genetic engineering in agriculture.ย Since there are GMOs already on the market, she said she sees no reasonย for there to be issuesย around it. Aishaย seems unaware that when she graduates,ย she will meet resistance from those who are against genetic engineering.ย The second student wasย Jonan Twinamatsiko, a final year student who helped mobilize fellow students for the science march. Unlike Aisha,ย Jonan is well aware ofย negativityย aimed toward modern science. He hasย worked to urgeย legislators to provide a betterย environment forย young scientists toย thrive. Jonan, who founded the Makerere University Biotechnology Society, saidย the march for science was timely andย an opportunityย to be a part of this effort toย push back against those who place ideology ahead of science.ย He also thought it was a way toย break free from the boredom of the laboratory and mix with the community and other scientists. Itย was a way of celebrating the impact of science in every sphere of life.
Frustrations
Both young scientists expressedย disappointment with theย absence of the countryโs senior scientists, who they wanted to see in leadership positions forย theย march. Those senior scientists, perhaps feeling that science should speak for itself, missed an opportunity toย come out to explain how they are โsavingโ communities from hunger and diseases. Andย how those efforts will not cause more harm.
In general, scientists are known for keeping to themselves — working away from the public’s eye.ย In science, everythingย follows tested principles and theories that must be replicated to the same effect. And so it is easy to think of scientists as boring —ย laboring awayย in laboratories working on research projects. But this hasย created a vacuum that has been filled by ideologists andย activists, who seeย science as aย democracy — where persuasion should carry the day and where “alternative facts” can beย embraced.
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Opportunity
This march for science put the spotlight on anย Earth Day that might otherwise have gone largely unnoticed.ย Could this moveย by scientists to โreclaimโ the Earth Dayย show that they understand the planetย better? The march was revolutionary because it is one of those rare occasions where people walked for, not against something. This march brought out the fact that love, not rage, can bring people together to walk happily rather than angrily.
The event wasย test passed byย Cornellโs Alliance for Science program, offering a chance forย science loversย to riseย and speak facts to ignorance, to help influenceย policy formulations and implementations.ย In Uganda and elsewhere in Africa where the march took place (Kenya, Ghana and ย Nigeria), the Cornell Alliance for Science fellows played key roles in making these eventsย successful.
Isaac Ongu is an agriculturist, science writer and an advocate for science based interventions in solving agricultural challenges in Africa. Follow Isaac on twitterย @onguisaac
For more background on the Genetic Literacy Project, read GLP on Wikipedia.
