The second annual Marquette March for Science will begin with a march down Third Street and will continue with a rally and a series of informational teach-ins at the Marquette Commons starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 14.

Sociology and environmental science major senior Nathan Frischkorn is one of many leaders of an NMU group that formed to organize and prepare for this year’s March for Science. Marquette is hosting this “satellite” march along with other local and national efforts across the country.

“We’ve been planning this event for about four months. This is the second annual march, so we had a bit of a quicker start then we did last year,” Frischkorn said. “Our main goal is to advocate for science based policy. Our position is that science should be informed by sound science to make the best decisions.”

Along with advocating for environmental activism, encouraging political participation will also be an objective for event organizers, he said.
“With the elections in 2018, we’re also focused on electing politicians who recognize the value of science and getting people involved in the process,” Frischkorn said. “We’ll have people working registration there.

This is a nonpartisan event, we’re really advocating for science regardless of political party.”

A series of four speakers will cover topics such as carbon cycling, local renewable energy, and indigenous rights. Each speaker will have 30 minutes to speak following the march.

“I’m really looking forward to the teach-ins we’ll be having after the march. In order to advocate for science-based policy, you have to know what the science is [to] try to disseminate that general information to the general public who might not be exposed to some of these ideas otherwise,” Frischkorn said.

All of the high schools throughout the central Upper Peninsula have been invited to participate in this learning opportunity while fosteringing communities around this event.

“It allows the younger generations to interact with older generations,” Frischkorn said. “When you come together around this common idea, that helps to create that community bringing people from generations together who might not have an opportunity to interact with one another.”
The March for Science will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.