Little Sun Marches for Science on Earth Day 2017

March for Science will happen on Earth Day this year, April 22nd, and Little Sun will be there to support them! If you’re in Berlin, join us on the March for Science, starting at 1pm this Saturday at Humboldt University. Check out the Facebook event for more information. Or wherever you are in the world, find the event closest to you and get involved.

 

Olafur Eliasson – Why I March For Science from Studio Olafur Eliasson on Vimeo.

The March for Science is a global gathering of scientists and supporters of science, calling for the protection and continuation of scientific research investment, evidence- based policy making and recognition of the importance of the scientific community to our economy, our environment, and our society in general. The main march will be at the National Mall in Washington, DC and there will be an additional 425+ satellite marches taking place in solidarity with science around the world.

Originally starting in America in 1970, Earth Day is now a huge global network, engaging over 50,000  partners in 192 countries to broaden and mobilize the environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities, and the theme of the campaign this year is Environmental and Climate Literacy.


Why we March for Science

We want to connect the world through sharing knowledge, and to emphasize the importance that high quality scientific research has to every aspect of our lives, and the preservation of our planet’s future. For instance, it is only through the hard work of solar cell researchers that more efficient and cost- effective solar cell technology is developed. This is what makes solar power cheaper and more popular for consumers, and allows renewable energy to spread across the world.

Why we Care about Climate Literacy and Sustainability Education

Educating young people about the importance of solar energy forms the foundation of a more sustainable planet in the future. To cultivate greener practices, we need to educate kids in a fun and engaging way, so that we are not only spreading awareness, but we are igniting their passion for environmental protection and renewable energies. This will translate into an acceleration of green policies, sustainability research, and innovative tech solutions. The future is fragile; it calls for present engagement to be strong, well-informed, and united in the mission to drastically change our collective bad habits and switch to sustainable living.


Improve your Climate Literacy

We will be encouraging engagement with Earth Day’s theme: environmental and climate literacy, by sharing our solar education workshops, and showing how they work in action by presenting our partner schools who are running the workshops. Follow our social media channels and the hashtags #ScienceMarch #WhyIMarchForScience #March4Science #EarthDay and #ConnectedByTheSun to see what else we share to help you improve your climate literacy!

Defining the Context:

Post – truth’ was crowned word of the year 2016 by the Oxford English Dictionary, the adjective is defined as ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief’. Despite having been in existence for the past decade, ‘post- truth’ peaked in circulation in 2016 due to its use in the phrase ‘post-truth politics’. This phrase became popular as a reaction to the tumultuous political events of Brexit in the United Kingdom and the presidential election in the United States.

Another new word: Cli- fi, referring to a genre of fiction that deals with the impacts of climate change and global warming. A fresh addition to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2017, Cli- fi is a sign of the times, defined as ‘like the science behind it, often presenting bleak visions of the future’.

Let’s keep fiction confined to the fantasy books, quash the ‘post- truth’ era, and ward off the threat of climate change by supporting the progression of scientific research, and educating current and future generations in sustainability.