Science advocates and UCLA Faculty Association members rallied in Westwood, urging Californians to support a bill that would place scientific research funding on the 2026 ballot. Approximately 40 protesters gathered at the Wilshire Federal Building for the second annual Stand Up For Science protest, organized by the Stand Up For Science nonprofit alongside the UCLA Faculty Association. This campaign began in February 2025 to resist federal threats to scientific agencies and public health under the Trump administration.
Currently, UCLA faces over $230 million in suspended research grants due to federal funding cuts. Protesters advocated for California Senate Bill 895, which aims to establish the California Foundation for Science and Health Research, distributing $23 billion for research funded by state bonds.
Speakers criticized the growing anti-science sentiment in government, emphasizing the importance of scientific research in personal stories. For example, Monique Trinh highlighted how research benefited her mother’s cancer treatment, while UCLA climate scientist Aradhna Tripati noted her lab’s recent funding losses. They all argued for SB 895 as a safeguard for California’s research capabilities amid federal uncertainties.
Michael Chwe, a UCLA political science professor, emphasized that the funding wouldn’t raise taxes but would significantly enhance California’s scientific innovation and economy. Vidya Saravanapandian, a postdoctoral scholar at UCLA, cited the economic impact of previous public investments in research, like California Proposition 71.
Post-speeches, protesters marched down Wilshire Boulevard, carrying supportive signs. Trinh concluded by highlighting the collective effort to support science for future generations.
