Gratitude Monday: Some of it IS rocket science

There were big doings around the Mall and around the world on Saturday. Hundreds of thousands of people—bench scientists, academics, concerned human beings—marched in support of the notion that scientific research is vital to all of us.

Seems really odd that in 2017 this is even up for debate, but it is, particularly with the Kleptocrat and Gauleiters at the head of the Executive Branch, and the Repugnants in control of both houses of Congress. We’ll have to see how SCOTUS rolls with the usurper now seated on the bench.

At any rate, I volunteered Saturday at the headquarters of one of the major constituent organizations supporting the March for Science in D.C. It was actually glorious—the buzz was amazing, and even the rain that came and went throughout the day did not materially dampen the marchers.

They’re scientists. Rain happens. And as at least one sign proclaimed, at least it’s not acid rain. For which you can thank the EPA.

So, here are a few of the photos I shot in between handing out swag and signs to carry to marchers who gathered for a pre-march rally. (As an aside: among our giveaways were magnetic bumper stickers; think refrigerator magnets writ large. One fellow was truly chuffed, because he has a magnetometer app on his iPhone. Of course he does. I had to look up "magnetometer" on my mobile.)  While the signs we handed out were good, I really loved the ones that people had hand-made. I’m grateful to have been part of this event.

This woman told me that she actually nearly did die of dysentery. Science is personal for her. (Well, it is for all of us; we're just not all personally aware of it.) 

You knew we weren't going to get through the day without Star Trek:

 In case you're wondering--scientists really do have a sense of humor:

This one's a little hard to read through the rain-protecting plastic wrap. But it invites fellow marchers to submit their posters (inside joke: many scientific conferences have poster competitions, but the posters are very intense synopses of research projects that are, in fact, peer reviewed. In this case posters = signs, but still) for peer review. I was told that the fellow who'd made this sign had printed cards that offered check boxes: accepted, minor revisions required, major revisions required, rejected. I told you--these people are just as funny as they come.

Note the "brain hat" she's wearing. I saw a few of them on Saturday.

Another brain hat.

Most of the signs were reversible, so you got messages coming and going.

A lot of family groups on Saturday.

And one final truth: