Hello Richmond neighbors and friends, please join me and my fellow scientists this Friday at noon and again at 1PM on the University Green in Burlington to Stand Up For Science.

Over the past several weeks, the United States' world-leading scientific enterprise has been dismantled in the name of government efficiency. But do not be fooled, science has one of the best returns on investment in the federal government. Every $1 of taxpayer money our government invests in basic and applied research yields up to $5 in benefits.

Such federally funded benefits include technology advances like the internet and GPS, as well as life-saving medical treatments such as heart valves, various vaccines (hepatitis, HPV, and an in-development mRNA vaccine for pancreatic cancer), early-detection tests for Alzheimer's, cancer immunotherapies, and many others.

Remarkably, funding for the National Institutes for Health, which pays for this work, has not kept pace with inflation. As a percent of GDP, we are investing less in science and medical research now than we were 60 years ago. The threats keeping mounting, though.

In Vermont, we have been rocked by 3 major flood events in two years. I have personally worked with NOAA on the next generation of their flood prediction models that are slated to become operational in the next couple of years. These models will improve flood forecasts and will save lives.

However, in the nearly 1000 people that were indiscriminately fired from NOAA last week were some of my colleagues and friends who were meant to bring this work to the American people. Even worse, DOGE wants to sell the building that houses the technicians and computers that run all of the weather and flood forecasting models for the US. (The National Weather Service returns an estimated value of $74 for every $1 spent!)

So please join me this Friday at noon and again at 1PM on the University Green in Burlington. We need to Stand Up For Science to protect what is left of our valuable research, protect our futures, and protect the lives and livelihoods of Vermonters.

Event Info

Mar 7, 2025, 10 AM to 6 PM

Mar 8, 2025, 8:30 to 9:30 AM

Mar 11, 2025, 4:45 to 6:30 PM