Prominent public health advocate Simon Chapman has slammed the Australian Academy of Science, describing it as "spineless" for its refusal to endorse March for Science rallies in Australia.
April 22 â World Earth Day â will see demonstrations in 53 countries, centred on Washington DC, in response to what many perceive as US President Donald Trump's attacks on science.
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Trump rolls back Obama-era climate regulations
U.S. President Trump said on Tuesday that he's putting an 'end to the war on coal' with an executive order that will undo a slew of Obama-era climate change policies.
Since taking office in January, Mr Trump has ordered the removal of climate-change initiatives from the White House website and moved to stop scientific organisations, including NASA, from tracking the impacts of climate change.
In various posts to social media website Twitter, Mr Trump has vowed to dismantle the Paris climate accords and in 2012 he infamously stated that global warming was "created by and for the Chinese to make US manufacturing non-competitive".
In Australia there will be March for Science actions in 12 cities, including Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Emeritus Professor Chapman, from the University of Sydney school of public health, will speak at the rally in Sydney, alongside former Liberal Party leader John Hewson, climate researcher Angela Maharaj and science journalist Jonica Newby.
The secretary for science policy at the Australian Academy of Science, Les Field, told Fairfax Media: "The academy strongly supports US scientists who have established the March for Science.
"Science in Australia is in a different situation and while it is good to show solidarity with our US colleagues it's unclear what the Australian marches will achieve."
Professor Chapman said that the US could not be isolated from the rest of the world.
"I think their position is immensely disappointing," he said.
"To act as if the downgrading of science in the US won't have global repercussions is profoundly naive and I think very spineless."
Is it correct that @Science Academy that you have declined to endorse/support/promote @ScienceMarchAu Pretty appalling if so.
â Simon Chapman AO (@SimonChapman6) April 8, 2017
"While the academy is not formally endorsing the March for Science it has no reservations about its Fellows or employees participating," said Professor Field.
"I am concerned about the denigration of scientists and science, and the widening of the gap between science and the public in debate," Dr Hewson, who is a honorary professorial fellow at the Australian National University, told Fairfax Media.
The incoming dean of science at UNSW, Emma Johnston, recently wrote in favour of the March for Science, saying: "When the world's scientists emerge from their labs and take to the streets there must be something very important at stake."
Her counterpart at the University of Technology Sydney, Professor Judith Smith, said she supports the demonstrations.
Why We #SCIENCEMARCH #BRISTOL Legendary Guitarist and Astrophysicist @DrBrianMay on why artists and scientists should march together! RT! pic.twitter.com/bzgE0qzs9j
â Bristol Sci March (@ScienceMarchBRS) April 12, 2017
Not all scientists are as enthusiastic to support the marches and many scientists Fairfax Media spoke to were concerned there could be a backlash from the general public.
"I fear that scientists protesting in support of their own disciplines may inadvertently reinforce dangerous perceptions that scientists are part of a detached elite," said Michael Biercuk, professor of quantum physics at the University of Sydney.
"Being perceived to stand separate from the broader community, instead of raising our voices as citizens first, neither serves science nor helps to strengthen societal bonds."
In February, Australia's Chief Scientist Alan Finkel told a symposium at ANU that while he thought science was "under attack" he had some concerns the marches could "backfire".