{"id":28211,"date":"2017-04-24T11:03:58","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T16:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/?p=28211"},"modified":"2017-04-24T11:09:18","modified_gmt":"2017-04-24T16:09:18","slug":"mad-scientists-at-oklahoma-march-urge-lawmakers-to-stop-underfunding-and-undermining-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2017\/04\/24\/mad-scientists-at-oklahoma-march-urge-lawmakers-to-stop-underfunding-and-undermining-research\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Mad Scientists\u2019 at Oklahoma March Urge Lawmakers to Stop Underfunding and Undermining Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-28211 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/20170422-science-march-pics104_web\/'><img width=\"620\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics104_WEB.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-28205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics104_WEB.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics104_WEB-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics104_WEB-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics104_WEB-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-28205'>\n\t\t\t\tA dad and his daughter on the final stretch of the March for Science at the Oklahoma capitol on April 22, 2017.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/20170422-science-march-pics055_web\/'><img width=\"620\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics055_WEB.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-28208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics055_WEB.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics055_WEB-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics055_WEB-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics055_WEB-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-28208'>\n\t\t\t\tCrowds line up at the start of the march.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/20170422-science-march-pics076_web\/'><img width=\"620\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics076_WEB.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-28207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics076_WEB.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics076_WEB-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics076_WEB-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics076_WEB-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-28207'>\n\t\t\t\tMarchers rallying for scientific freedom parade around the Oklahoma capitol grounds.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl><p><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><\/p>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/20170422-science-march-pics036_web\/'><img width=\"620\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics036_WEB.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-28209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics036_WEB.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics036_WEB-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics036_WEB-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics036_WEB-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-28209'>\n\t\t\t\tMarchers rally in front of the Oklahoma capitol.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/20170422-science-march-pics006_web\/'><img width=\"620\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics006_WEB.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-28210\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics006_WEB.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics006_WEB-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics006_WEB-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics006_WEB-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-28210'>\n\t\t\t\tShannon Williams watches her son as a neuroscientist shows him how to control a grabber-arm by squeezing his hand.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/20170422-science-march-pics091_web\/'><img width=\"620\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics091_WEB.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-28206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics091_WEB.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics091_WEB-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics091_WEB-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2017\/04\/20170422-science-march-pics091_WEB-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-28206'>\n\t\t\t\tMarchers fly and earth flag between an oil well and the Oklahoma capitol building on the last leg of the March for Science.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl><p><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div><p>Oklahomans joined <a href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thetwo-way\/2017\/04\/22\/525112932\/saturdays-march-aims-to-stand-up-for-science\">thousands of people<\/a> in more than 600 cities on Saturday in a march for scientific freedom organized to send a message to state and national lawmakers.<!--more--><\/p><p>The March for Science in Oklahoma City was a political rally and science fair, and marchers came from all across Oklahoma and assembled near the front steps of the state capitol. There were meteorologists showing off phased-array weather radars and doctors wearing lab coats. Engineers impressed children with robots, students and teachers pled for education funding.<\/p><p>Shannon Williams, a dentist who studied biomedical science at Oklahoma State University, brought her three children to the march to show them how science is used in their daily lives. Williams watched as a woman in a neuroscience booth applied sticky sensors to her young son\u2019s skin so he could control a robotic grabber-claw by squeezing his hand.<\/p><p>Williams felt it was important to show \u201cunified support for people who stand behind facts\u201d through the Oklahoma City march. \u201cEspecially now, whenever facts seem to be disregarded.\u201d<\/p><p>The marchers\u2019 signs and chants were clever and characteristically nerdy, detailing science\u2019s role in bettering society, in powering and linking up our modern world, and in treating illness and wiping out disease. Some signs singled out EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the former Oklahoma attorney general who built much of his political career on fighting federal environmental rules in court, and Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, who authored a book calling climate change a hoax.<\/p><p>Calls to action were simple: Contact lawmakers and tell them to fund science, and stop ignoring it and trying to influence it. Physicist and University of Oklahoma professor Howard Baer spoke out against a new political administration he said is undermining the work of scientists.<\/p><p>\u201cIt may temporarily profit some people that are in power to deny what science is all about,\u201d Baer said. \u201cBut, in the long run for the bulk of people and the planet, they are doing immense harm.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oklahomans joined thousands of people in more than 600 cities on Saturday in a march for scientific freedom organized to send a message to state and national lawmakers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":28209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[490],"tags":[679,699,700],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28211"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28211"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28212,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28211\/revisions\/28212"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}