National Get Up Day is celebrated February 1 in the US "is an opportunity to share inspiring stories of perseverance; it’s a reminder to pick ourselves up when we’ve fallen and give it (whatever it may be) another go!"
Science and academia have felt their freedoms stepped on in recent days. Their response has been to speak out and stand up for the future of research and free flow of thoughtful discovery on the global stage.
The new US administration "have repeatedly cast doubt upon the reality of human-made climate change, questioned the repeatedly proven safety of vaccines. Since the inauguration, the administration has already frozen grants and contracts by the Environmental Protection Agency and gagged researchers at the US Department of Agriculture. Many scientists are asking themselves: What can I do?"
Some scientists are throwing their hat into the political arena to ensure science has a seat at policy tables.
While thousands more have given voice to their concerns by signing a petition against the immigration ban which directly impacts the free flow of ideas.
As of this morning the potion has been signed by:
- Over 18,000 Academic Supporters
- 14,800 U.S. Faculty Members
- 50 Nobel Laureates
- 82 Winners of Fields/Dirac/Clark/Turing/Poincare Medals, Breakthrough Prize, Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur Fellowship
- 443 Members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Arts
So what will you do this National Get Up Day?
