ABOUT
Our Story
Stand Up for Science was born in February 2025—in the wake of devastating cuts to federal research funding and infrastructure, unprecedented government censorship of scientific work, and targeted attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Supported by a team of over 100 volunteers, we hosted over 30 official Stand Up for Science rallies on March 7th, 2025, with nearly 150 satellite demonstrations occurring in cities across the United States and around the world.
Our grassroots movement received media coverage from local, national, and international outlets, including Science, Nature, The New York Times, Forbes Magazine, Scientific American, STAT News, and The Scientist, among others.
Now, as a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, we’re working to mobilize and support a base of science activists to engage in sustained action for the years to come. Join us.
Our Policy Goals
Our movement started with three broad policy goals.
While additional, more specific demands may arise in response to new developments, these original goals will always guide our future work. Together, they reflect our belief that science is a public good and a pillar of social, political, and economic progress.
1. End Censorship and Political Interference in Science
Science thrives on open inquiry and evidence-based decision-making. We demand:
⛔️ An end to government censorship: Prohibit all forms of political censorship in scientific research, including restrictions on the topics of scientific research that are eligible for federal funding.
📊 Restoration of public access to scientific information: Restore all scientific data, reports, and resources on federal websites to pre-January 31st, 2025 status, ensuring full public access to primary scientific sources.
🧑⚖️ Protection of research independence: Mandate legal safeguards against political interference to preserve the integrity of federal research and communication.
🗣️ A commitment to freedom of scientific expression: Protect scientists’ rights to communicate their findings freely, without fear of retaliation or suppression.
2. Secure and Expand Scientific Funding
Publicly funded science drives innovation, strengthens the economy, and improves lives. We demand:
💸 Restoration of federal research funding: Reinstate federal funding for scientific research across all disciplines to FY 2024 levels and commit a 20% increase in federal scientific funding over the next three years followed by annual increases indexed to inflation to ensure sustained scientific advancement.
💼 Reinstatement of wrongfully dismissed federal employees: Rehire all unlawfully terminated scientists and administrators at federal agencies (including, but not limited to, the NSF, NIH, CDC, EPA, NOAA, NPS, NWS, NASA, FWS, and FDA) with full back pay and benefits.
💵 Removal of the 15% cap on indirect funding for federally funded grants and reinstatement of indirect funding policies as they existed prior to January 1, 2025.
3. Defend and support programs that offer equal opportunity for ALL people to become scientists, participate in scientific research, and be the focus of evidence-based scientific inquiry
Science is strongest when it includes everyone. We demand:
🧬 Preservation of equitable access to STEM: Maintain and expand federal programs that broaden participation in STEM training and careers.
🥼 Protection for all scientists: Enforce anti-discrimination protections for scientists to ensure equal opportunity for participation and impact.
🔭 Reinstatement of federal initiatives that promote equal opportunities for underrepresented groups: Restore all programming within federal agencies to pre-January 1, 2025 status, ensuring continued progress toward equity.