Hundreds of demonstrators gathered last Friday at Halifax Mall in Raleigh to protest against cuts in federal funding for scientific research. The event was one of 32 official rallies happening in cities across the country under the title “Stand Up For Science.” The nationwide rallies were mainly in response to recent actions of the Donald Trump administration, especially its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The unofficial government unit created by Trump and led by Elon Musk has triggered mass firings and funding cuts. The protest in Raleigh started with speeches by several featured speakers, each of them a local scientist or researcher with some personal insight on the effects of funding cuts. Noelle Muzzy, who was one of the main organizers, said it’s important for people to hear these stories. “Stand Up For Science is a really good opportunity for people to both tell stories about how they’ve been impacted by research, whether they’re a scientist professionally or no...