Thanks to a collaboration with the March for Science, the nearly 4,000 STEM leaders, scientists, academics, researchers, professionals and college students attending 2018 SACNAS – The National Diversity in STEM Conference, will have the opportunity to register to vote if they have not done so already. A growing body of research, including a recent analysis from Tufts University’s Institute of Democracy and Higher Education, indicate STEM undergraduate majors are voting less frequently than any other major. This trend is concerning to SACNAS given how scientific research and scientific findings are increasingly being ignored, especially when the findings do not support positions.
The 2018 National Diversity in STEM Conference, October 11-13 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio is hosted by Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), a broadly inclusive organization with a 45-year history of fostering and promoting success for underrepresented minorities in STEM.
A national partner with March for Science since its inception in early 2017, SACNAS is committed to encouraging its members to participate in active civic engagement.
SACNAS Executive Director John D. Winnett says, “45 years ago, during the height of the Chicano and American Indian civil rights movements, the founders of SACNAS built our organization as a network–knowing that voices are stronger together. Our voter registration partnership with March for Science is a fitting tribute to our founder’s legacy of civic engagement and community visibility.”
Dr. Caroline Weinberg, interim Executive Director of March for Science says, “If we want to change the future, we need to advocate for science and hold our officials accountable every day. If you are eligible to vote, that includes voting for science in November. We’re proud to partner with SACNAS and to offer voter registration and engagement at the 2018 SACNAS event, making it easy for all participants to take civic action.”
(NOTE: States have different deadlines for voter registration. For example, the date for pre-registration in Texas is 10/9. Be sure to check state specific voter registration deadlines here. Better yet, register right now!)
About SACNAS
For more than 45 years, SACNAS has served as an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanics & Native Americans, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership within STEM.
Today, the organization serves nearly 6,000 members and has over 115 student and professional chapters throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. SACNAS influences a larger STEM community of over 25,000 through outreach, advocacy, and production of the National Diversity in STEM Conference. Learn more about SACNAS at sacnas.org, Facebook, or Twitter.
About March for Science
The March for Science (MFS) grew from a single-day event on April 22, 2017 to a movement that champions robustly funded science as pillars of human freedom and prosperity. As a global network of more than 1800 satellite organizers and 300 partners, the MFS network unites as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and for political leaders and policymakers to enact evidence-based policies in the public interest. For more information, visit www.marchforscience.com