Willamette professors and students joined the “Stand Up for Science” rally outside the Oregon State Capitol on Friday, March 7, alongside a crowd of over 500, to stand in defense of science amidst federal defunding of scientific programs.
The “Stand Up for Science” rally was a part of a nationwide movement with over 32 official rallies and nearly 150 other walkouts, all calling for institutions and policymakers to defend science and stop political interference currently impacting the scientific community.
This comes as the second Trump administration has implemented multiple attacks on federal scientific agencies: a freeze of grant funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science foundation (NSF), the removal of government web pages that include terms discussing diversity, the removal and renouncement of data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the removal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization. While some of these moves have been paused or reversed by the courts, disruption and confusion remain.
The Capitol protest brought both young and experienced scientists from across Oregon, with some attendees from Portland, Corvallis and Eugene. Eight highlighted speakers spoke at the rally, which included Congresswoman Andrea Salinas, Dr. Brittany Barker, Dr. Brian Druker, Dr. Bonnie Nagel, Dr. Sue Haig, Senate Representative David Gomberg, Dr. Jennifer Krauel, and Dr. Nicki Swann, a neuroscience professor at University of Oregon and a two-time cancer survivor.
In Swann’s speech to the crowd, she highlighted the importance of an organization like NIH as a funding organization for her professional research and through the development of life saving treatments. “I am an example of how NIH can save people’s lives. Future lives will be lost if we don’t save science.”
Other attendees also expressed urgency regarding this rally. Megan Quinn, a nurse and assistant professor at Oregon Health and Science University, listed some of her concerns as a scientist, notably the rise of distrust in the scientific field and the long-term implications of federal funding loss on future research.
Quinn also contextualized the gravity of seeing an event like this: “Scientists are not who we think of on the frontlines,” Quinn said. “If scientists are out of the lab, that is how you know something is wrong; that’s how you know it’s serious.”
For some in the Willamette community, the rally was a call to action. In the days leading up to the event, professors sent out emails to fellow faculty and students across the science departments informing them about the event, and two sign-making sessions were held to allow students and professors to create their own posters to bring to the rally.
Biology professor David Craig came to the rally with a poster including a drawing of the Oregon state bird, the Western Meadowlark, a critically sensitive species whose habitat is being preserved by federal funds and federal land. The poster also had the phrase, “She flies with science,” a play on the state motto, “She flies with her own wings.”
At the rally, Craig explained his reasoning for attending, which included his belief in the value of “knowledge into action.” He also noted the impacts he’s starting to see at Willamette as a result of these new federal policies. “Specific to Willamette, the number of students who have had opportunities evaporate because the funding has been canceled, it’s been tragic,” Craig said.
Executive freezes on federal programs and grants have effectively shrunk opportunities for young scientists, as research experiences for undergraduates (REU) opportunities have shuddered, graduate programs are slowing admissions, and job opportunities are shrinking.
“It didn’t even take the current administration a month to start shutting down some really important programs that a lot of us would be working in,” explained Anna Hornbeck (’25), a physics major who is currently in the process of applying for graduate schools.
Physics major and chemistry minor Alicia Robbins (’25), who is currently in the process of job searching leading up to graduation, expressed similar concerns, especially due to the federal scrutinization of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. “Due to the cutting of DEI and the misinformation for what it actually stands for and how it helps women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community, it is going to be a lot more difficult to get jobs,” Robbins said. “As a woman in those fields that are mostly dominated by men, it’s definitely scary to think about what the future will look like.”
However, amidst these fears, Hornbeck acknowledged the importance of having her professors show up to the rally and continue to encourage their students. “Knowing that my professors are here to stand next to me and support me and support people like me is really important,” Hornbeck explained. “We’re young. We’re just entering the field, and having support from people who have been in the field for 20 years is really important, and it gives us a foundation to stand on.”
“It is definitely encouraging and inspiring,” Robbins added. “Right now it’s really easy to hide and have no say or opinions to not rub people the wrong way or to save your funding … so for professors to be very vocal [and say], ‘No, you need to stand up; you need to fight; it’s you guys that are going to be affected,’ and really support us, it’s been really awesome.”
Craig highlighted how the rally created a collaborative space for science and was a way to provide opportunities for students to connect with other scientists. He also advocated for self-care and community building amidst these unprecedented times, as well as remaining passionate in whatever scientific interests one may have.
“Don’t let the oppression that is coming at the institutions of science and education overwhelm you,” Craig said. “If you love sea turtles, or if you love the idea of curing cancer, or if you love birds like I do, keep that in your heart and in your head and keep persisting.”
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