Hundreds of scientists and advocates attend Stand Up for Science Rally in Boston Common
Professor Nancy Kanwisher: “When we betray our commitment to learning and education, we undercut the foundations of our republic.”
Photo provided by Jessica Chomik-Morales
On March 7, hundreds of scientists, students, and advocates gathered at the Boston Common for the Stand Up For Science rally, one of over 30 nationwide events organized to promote evidence-based policies and sustained federal research funding. Held across from the Massachusetts State House, the rally featured speakers from different backgrounds, including academics, elected officials, and industry leaders. One of the speakers was Nancy Kanwisher ’80 PhD ’86, Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, who delivered a speech about the current state of scientific funding in the United States and its broader implications for society.
Recent federal funding cuts have strained MIT and peer institutions, as well as halted some research programs. Given that the Institute receives significant support from federal agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institute of Health (NIH), research labs at MIT have faced delays in grant reviews and reductions in funding. As a result of the financial uncertainty, the Institute issued a hiring freeze for non-essential positions on Feb. 14 and plans to make budget cuts of 5 to 10% across all academic and administrative units. Peer institutions like Harvard and Stanford have reported similar challenges, raising concerns about retaining top talent and maintaining U.S. leadership in innovation.
Part of a wider national movement, the event aimed to increase public support for science in the face of federal funding freezes and policy decisions that have hindered progress in research. Katie Blair, Director of Massachusetts Families for Vaccines and lead organizer of the Boston rally, emphasized the universal importance of scientific research.
“I'm not a scientist myself. I'm a lawyer by training and an organizer professionally. But like the slogan goes, science is for everyone,” Blair said. “I think everyone benefits from medical research and other scientific research, and I think it's absurd to be cutting the funding for that when it is so beneficial for people's lives and also for the economy.” Attendees came to hear speakers share their belief that scientific research must remain a priority in legislative decision-making.
The rally opened with an anthem performance by The Testable Hypotheses, followed by remarks from Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan and U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss MBA ’16, who represents Massachusetts’s 4th congressional district. Both underscored the role of science in tackling pressing societal challenges.
Besides public figures in science and politics, MIT faculty members also gave speeches at the rally. Dr. Marzyeh Ghassemi PhD ’17, Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence and machine learning in advancing healthcare solutions. Dr. Gary Ruvkun, 2024 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, and Dr. Eric Maskin, 2007 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economic Sciences, each spoke about the influence of fundamental scientific research on real-world applications.
Kanwisher’s speech laid out the stark reality of funding cuts and their repercussions for scientific discovery. “Some of the best work that's come out of my lab has been done by veterans, immigrants, and people of low-income backgrounds,” Kanwisher said, emphasizing that science thrives on diversity and inclusivity.
Kanwisher then warned that significant decreases in federal funding would not only hurt individual researchers, but also dismantle the foundations of American innovation. “The destruction of American science will not be temporary, but will take decades to reverse.” she said. “You can't just fire everyone and then rehire as needed. Time-sensitive experiments will have been wrecked, people will have moved on, and a generation of scientists will be lost.”
Kanwisher called on the public and policymakers to take action, urging them to push for the restoration of normal grant funding processes, protect American research institutions, and recognize the role of science in democracy, economic growth, and public health. “When we betray our commitment to learning and education, we undercut the foundations of our republic, the engine of our economy, and the future of our children,” she concluded.
Although the speeches concluded around 2:45 p.m., dozens of protesters continued to rally outside the Massachusetts State House until 4 p.m. Some held posters with messages like “We are not mad scientists, just very, very disappointed” and “Science saves lives — cutting it costs lives.” As they chanted “Boston is a science town,” some passing cars on Beacon Street honked to show support.
Roboticist Griswald Brooks was motivated to attend the rally to raise awareness about the impact of the federal funding cuts and the importance of science research. “It’s more important that you go and you try to stand up for the truth than to be afraid of being ostracized,” Brooks said.
A federal worker, who requested anonymity due to fear of retribution, stated that he attended the rally because of his “duty to stand up and protect science.” He belongs to a federal agency that supports research grants for universities. “People often don’t realize technological advances come from basic research for unanticipated reasons,” he said. He then shared his concerns about the long-term repercussions of the research funding cuts on the U.S., stating that the U.S. may eventually lose to other countries, such as China, in scientific fields.
For data scientist Brandy Freitas, the funding cuts have indirectly impacted her company. Freitas is the Director of Data Science at Syglass, a startup that uses virtual reality to perform 3D visualizations of scientific microscopy data. Syglass works with over 300 labs in the world, and its local clients include MIT and Harvard. For Freitas, the funding cuts have impacted researchers at universities who work with her company. “It’s really tragic to see people that are like, ‘Hey, I really wanted to do this but my funding got pulled and so we’ll talk in a year.’” Freitas said. She argued that the funding cuts not only affect people in academia such as postdocs, but also similar startups that come from universities.
The Stand Up For Science movement has organized rallies nationwide, as campus and workplace walkouts have been held in cities like Washington D.C. and San Francisco. College students from universities such as UC Berkeley and Johns Hopkins University have also participated in the rallies.
Note from the Editor: Jessica Chomik-Morales is a former member of Prof. Nancy Kanwisher's lab.