April 3rd, 2017
The Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences (FABBS) is pleased to support the March for Science. The March and related activities provide an opportunity to celebrate science and the important role it plays in our society.
Science undergirds almost every aspect of our lives. The sciences of mind, brain, and behavior improve our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease; shed light on dyslexia; enhance treatment for patients with traumatic brain injury and addiction; explain how the brain perceives objects or situations that may be dangerous; improve education for children; and help prevent violent extremism. Science improves lives and must be celebrated.
The March is also an opportunity to educate and engage the public about the scientific process—the incremental search for truth, the human aspect of scientific inquiry, openness and transparency in the process, and how the continuing search adds to a body of knowledge that modifies, builds on, and illuminates prior findings.
Science must also inform policies, in the United States and around the world, to protect our planet and our people. We march in order to urge our lawmakers to support scientific inquiry, to keep the scientific process insulated from politics, and to use scientific knowledge to improve conditions around the world.
Through the March, scientists and supporters can unite around a core set of principles:
- Science is a process by which we understand the world;
- All people deserve an education that includes science, teaches critical thinking, imparts skills needed to evaluate claims, and is based on diverse perspectives;
- Science must be openly communicated and involve the public in partnership;
- Science should be used to improve policies and regulations so that they serve the public interest;
- Supporting science that benefits the public means funding all sciences and building an adequate scientific workforce.
Our hope is that this March is a first step. Next steps include: engaging the public and policy makers in understanding the scientific process; working together to support the pursuit of knowledge; safeguarding standards of honesty, fairness, and integrity in science and in their use by elected officials; building an infrastructure to disseminate research findings to the public; and making careers in scientific fields accessible to all.
FABBS encourages participation in the March, related educational activities, and satellite events around the world.
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The Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences is a coalition of scientific societies that share an interest in advancing the sciences of mind, brain, and behavior, and in using the results of that research for the public good.
Download a copy of this statement: FABBS Statement in Support of March for Science 04.03.17
Learn more about the March for Science on their website.
