Students, faculty join rally for demonstration for national Stand Up For Science movement

By Ramya Motati     3/11/25 11:16pm

Around 200 Rice students and faculty expressed their support for the national Stand Up for Science movement in the graduate student commons March 7. The event coincided with SUFS rallies nationwide, including one in Washington, D.C.

SUFS is a response to the Trump administration cutting and pausing science funding, impacting researchers nationwide. Policy changes have also led to layoffs, hiring freezes and decreased enrollment in graduate programs. 

Austin Moser, a fifth-year chemistry graduate student, said his postdoctoral study offer was rescinded due to lack of funding and he was told that he might have a better chance in Europe. 

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“Five weeks from now, I’ll be defending my thesis and be a doctor,” Moser said. “Now, I have nothing after graduation.” 

Jeffrey Hartgerink, a professor of chemistry, connected Rice to the nationwide movement. Hartgerink said he reached out to the Chemistry Graduate Student Association to help plan out the rally. In addition, the rally was supported by other student groups including the Student Association, the Fun With Chemistry science outreach organization and OwlChemy. 

Hartgerink said he encouraged students to get politically involved and advocate against funding cuts.

“[Students] can make noise by talking to their congress, calling their senators, talking to their parents, talking to their friends, making sure that people understand that this is extremely important to the wellbeing of the country,” Hartgerink said. 

Hartgerink said he aimed to draw attention to the importance of science and inform the Rice community about how federal funding decisions impact undergraduates as well.

“I want undergraduates to recognize that this isn’t some kind of abstract thing,” Hartgerink said. “The number of undergraduates that I’m taking in my lab this summer is going to be less than it would be if these events weren’t happening.”

Thomas Killian, dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, said the uncertainty around funding is cause for concern in the scientific community, especially regarding inclusivity. 

“I also worry about the attacks on programs that are designed to increase access to education and to participation in science,” Killian said. 

Killian said that Rice will continue to do its best to support its students in this time of uncertainty. 

However, Killian also said he was confident that Rice’s programs would adapt in the case of cuts or changes to funding.

“The community is strong, and Rice University is strong,” Killian said. “We will persevere, and we will continue in our mission to educate and to make discoveries and advances. We will find a way through.” 

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