March for Science Longyearbyen: A big success!
Marching for Science in Longyearbyen. Photo: Eva Therese Jenssen/UNIS.
Top image: Marching for Science in Longyearbyen. Photo: Eva Therese Jenssen/UNIS
Today Longyearbyen marched for science. About 110 people gathered to march for science, not silence.
22 April 2017
Text and photos: Eva Therese Jenssen
The local organizers, with biology student Pauline Gauffier in front, were unsure how many would turn up for the march in Longyearbyen. The initiative was just announced 72 hours prior to the march, it was the weekend where many go for longer trips and the sun was shining.
However, a stunning 110 people turned up to march! With colorful posters, flags and even a delegation from the official North Pole March for Science, the crown set out from the science centre and marched through town.
At the town square, by the Miner’s statue, Gauffier and Kim Holmén, international director at the Norwegian Polar Institute, held appeals which were received with cheers and clapping by the listeners.
Afterwards, several people came and thanked Gauffier and the other organizers for marking this global event in Longyearbyen.
In mainland Norway there will be marches later today, such as in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Tromsø, Stavanger and Bodø. And at 17:30 the definitive northernmost march today will be in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard at 79°N!
