Protestors held signs that read, “Make America Scientific Again,” and “Science over Politics.” (Photos by Sam Stroup/Carolina News & Reporter)

A national movement advocating for more scientific funding and awareness brought a rally to Columbia on Friday.

The 2025 Stand Up for Science Protest saw scientists and advocates to protect existing funding and to push for more governmental support for science.

“The fact that I was able to come up here and join a group at all – I’m impressed,” said Hunter Stewart, a conservationist and protester. “The amount of support that we’ve seen so far from people is really making me hopeful.”

The four-hour rally was one of 32 across the country that supported the movement. The movement’s goals include ending censorship in science, supporting federal scientific funding and promoting DEI-related programs in science.

President Donald Trump has cut funding and jobs from several national science organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

“In South Carolina, research really is important for our economy,” said Kristen Engevik, a researcher and the protest’s organizer. “It’s important for job security for the thousands of researchers who are (employed) here, but also for those who maintain those buildings.”

Trump signed an order Feb. 15 that cut funding from the NIH to universities, leading to the loss of $79 million in grants. Florida State University halted 11 research projects due to the cuts.

“I’m very adamant and passionate about making sure that we have our jobs, because our jobs rely on federal funding,” Engevik said.

Engevik said the protest’s motto, “Science is for everyone,” creates a unified message that the general population can relate to.

Protester Harvey Maxcy-Dangerfield said the public has created a negative perception about the field.

“People need to try to figure out more about what science is and how it works,” Maxcy-Dangerfield said. “You don’t have to know everything about science, but you need to know what the basic principles are.”

The cuts are the first for national scientific agencies in more than a decade. Stewart believes science shouldn’t be affected by political opinions.

“Science is not swayed by opinion or politics – it’s fact,” Stewart said. “The only thing that sways it is evidence. It’s important for us to stand out here and explain that we need to back it with funding.”

Engevik said the rallies across the country will help people understand the impact of scientific funding.

“Whether you are directly working in science or not, it impacts your everyday life,” Engevik said. “Funding science is a return on our society and our economy.”

Protestors gathered at the Statehouse on Friday to help raise scientific awareness and funding.

The rally, which ran from noon to 4 p.m., saw a large turnout from scientists and local advocates.