March for Science near Purdue encourages involvement in politics

Thinking about the future, he decided he wanted to walk beneath a grove of trees he'd planted himself someday. That's what lead him to go into science, he said. Now he studies the genes of forest trees and is an adjunct assistant professor of forestry at Purdue University.

Facts can be solid, Woeste said, but ideas like "truth" and "knowledge" are more abstract.

"If there's a group of people in the world that doesn't accept something you that you think is a bedrock truth, that can be disconcerting," Woeste said.

Across the country, crowds of people took to public spaces to rally in support of science on Saturday. In Purdue University's back yard, folks gathered at Lafayette's Riehle Plaza to make their voices heard.

Purdue physics grad student Cassie Reuter said scientists are cautious by nature, and so many scientists getting involved in politics is a major statement.