Women In Science Pledge Against Hate

First Posted: Nov 28, 2016 02:13 AM EST
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Following the victory of the U.S. president-elect, Donald Trump, almost 9,000 women involved in scientific studies have signed an open letter to combat hate and "anti-science" sentiments.

BBC reported that there are already 8,800 women in science that have supported a pledge against the "hateful rhetoric that was given a voice" by the incoming president of the world's most powerful nation. The open letter addressed the threats of impeding the necessary projects in curbing the dangerous effects of climate change.

As explained to Scientific American, the statement contains the researchers' reaction to the "fear that the scientific progress and momentum in tackling our biggest challenges, including staving off the worst impacts of climate change, [would] come to an abrupt stop."

Trump, who has been famously known to have tagged the global warming issue as a "Chinese hoax," declared to abandon current President Barack Obama's Paris Climate Change Agreement during his campaign. This statement placed scientists to an urgent situation where a powerful action needs to take place.

"Many of us feel personally threatened by this divisive and destructive rhetoric and have turned to each other for understanding, strength and a path forward," the letter reads.

This statement serves as an open call for a global network of scientists to unite in conducting further studies and to encourage young people to pursue promising careers in the field of science.

"Science is foundational in a progressive society, fuels innovation, and touches the lives of every person on this planet," the letter stated. "The anti-knowledge and anti-science sentiments expressed repeatedly during the U.S. presidential election threaten the very foundations of our society.

According to IFL Science, this letter was authored by Dr. Kelly Ramirez from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Theresa Jedd from School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Teresa Bilinski from St. Edwards' University, Jane Zelikova from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Jessica Metcalf from Colorado State University.

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