March for Science has become an international movement with almost 400 marches around the world. In Denmark, Copenhagen was first to join the movement, but Aarhus is now also ready with a march in support of science and freedom of research. 

Olav W. Bertelsen, who is associate professor of computer science and joint union representative for the academic staff (BOTH academic and administrative) at AU is one of the organisers of the march in Aarhus. He urges his colleagues and the students at AU to take part in the march on 22 April.

"It’s an opportunity to help create awareness of the important role that free science plays in society. Free science is not controlled by political objectives or economic interests. It’s about creating knowledge that we can use as an objective basis for decision-making and for the development of society and the world," he says.    

Lack of political respect for science

March for Science can also be seen as a protest against fake news and politicians who use facts as they please. Among others the American President Donald Trump, who has called research on global warming for a scam. But according to Bertelsen, examples of a lack of political respect regarding research results can also be found in Denmark. 

"Not so long ago we saw colleagues at AU put under pressure to alter scientific facts during work on the government’s agriculture package. However, a new standard contract has made this less likely to happen again."

Bertelsen mentions another example. The Liberal Party spokesman on transport, Karsten Pihl Lorentzen, defended a proposal to increase speed limits on the roads despite the fact that traffic researchers concluded that when speeds are increased, the number of traffic fatalities also increase. Karsten Pihl Lorentzen stated in connection with this that research must be combined with real life.

"He accused the researchers of not understanding reality, overruled the research and turned it into a result of private beliefs," says Bertelsen.    

Must be taken seriously

Mathematics student Sune Koch Rønnow, who is a member of AU's board and former chair of the Student Council, is also among the initiators of the march in Aarhus. He encourages his fellow students – and anyone else for that matter – to spend two hours of their Saturday on 22 April on demonstrating that scientific work at the university is important and must be taken seriously. 

"It’s a case of showing that science is important, and that you can’t reject scientific facts, as is the case in some political circles. Science must have a prominent position in society and should be taken seriously by politicians," says Rønnow.

The march in Aarhus is not yet finalised as the organisers are waiting for approval from the police, and the speakers are not yet finalised. But you can stay updated on Facebook, says Rønnow.    

Translated by Peter Lambourne