Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, and founder and CEO of Ocean Collectiv, a strategy consulting firm for conservation solutions grounded in social justice. Her new venture is Ocean Policy Lab, a think tank focused on coastal cities. She also holds appointments as an adjunct professor at New York University and a science scholar at Pioneer Works. As executive director of the Waitt Institute, Ayana co-founded the Blue Halo Initiative and led the Caribbean’s first successful island-wide ocean zoning effort. Previously, she worked on ocean policy at the EPA and NOAA, and was a leader of the March for Science. Ayana earned a BA from Harvard University in environmental science and public policy, and a Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in marine biology. She is a passionate advocate for coastal communities, and builds solutions for ocean justice and our climate crisis. Find her @ayanaeliza.
Dr. BethAnn McLaughlin is an assistant professor in the departments of Neurology and Pharmacology at Vanderbilt specializing in mitochondrial and redox stress signaling in neurological injury and disease. She has received major research funding from the NIH, the DoD, the Dan Marino Foundation, the AHA and IARPA. Her career was sidetracked in 2014 when she experienced retaliation after being a witness in a Title IX investigation. Recently, the National Academy of Sciences gold ribbon panel revealed that her experience was all too common for women in science and medicine. The majority of women in these fields are sexually harassed, very few report, and the consequence of reporting is almost always retaliation. The rates of assault and harassment of those we seek to include most including People of Color, LGBTQI and individuals with disabilities are far higher and even more devastating.
Alexandria Villaseñor is a 13-year-old climate activist living in New York City. Frustrated by the lack of progress at COP 24, and inspired by 16 year old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Alexandria began her own solo weekly school strike for climate in front of the United Nations Headquarters on December 14, 2018. Soon after, Alexandria became one of the national and international organizers for the first ever global youth climate strike which occurred on March 15, 2019. This historic strike mobilized 1.6M youth from 123 countries to demand climate action from their world leaders. Today, Alexandria continues in her role as a prominent climate strike organizer and is working to bring accurate climate science and climate change education into K-12 schools. Personally, Alexandria stands for a 50% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, as outlined in the October 2018 IPCC Special Report and intends to continue her school strikes, climate activism and direct action until this goal is reached.
Science Expo
March for Science will channel the energy of our march indoors at our interactive Science Expo hosted by Pace University at their Student Center. Inside we will welcome budding and seasoned activists, curious minds and concerned citizens to engage with the causes and speakers that propelled them to march. Speakers and expositions include:
What should I bring? • Signs, banners and posters are most welcome • Comfortable shoes are recommended • Small bags and backpacks are permitted • Clear bags are preferred • Plenty of water and snacks
What should I leave at home? • Illegal drugs
• Any weapon, or anything that can be used as a weapon, including sticks for signs, pocket knives, multi-tools, mace, etc.
• Large bags will be subject to search by the NYPD
Will there be American Sign Language Translation? • Yes, there will be ASL translation for the keynote speeches.
What happens if it rains? • The march will proceed rain or shine.
How do I get to the march kickoff location?
• Foley Square is accessible via the subway via:
• The 4,5,6 trains at the Brooklyn Bridge stop
• The R and W trains at the City Hall stop
• The J and Z trains at the Chambers stop
