Over a thousand people gathered at UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza on March 7 to protest cuts to federal research funding in a nationwide “Stand Up for Science” movement. Speakers criticized the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts, which threaten funding for institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as mass firings and the elimination of USAID research programs.

Professor Edward Miguel, who was part of the rally organizers, emphasized that these cuts undermine both science and democracy, contradicting the U.S. founding fathers’ vision of supporting scientific research. “This dual assault on science and democracy is not aligned with our country’s founding vision,” said Miguel. “The founding fathers created scientific societies to promote scientific research and they saw it as essential to our democracy. … And their vision has paid off handsomely. The U.S. has been the world’s unrivaled scientific and technological leader for the last 80 years.”

The event highlighted concerns that reduced funding would stifle curiosity-driven research and limit opportunities for aspiring scientists, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many protesters held signs emphasizing the vital role of science in public health and environmental protection, with messages like “Science Saves Lives” and “Fund Science Like Your Life Depended on It.” The protest concluded with a march through campus, reaffirming the commitment of researchers, students, and faculty to defending scientific research and its societal impact,