My family and I attended the March for Science Boston on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. My boys started out grumbling about having to participate in another march (Geez! We've only been to three since January 21st—it's not like we have to demonstrate every day...yet), so I was grateful that this march had a very visible focus on kids and science. The winners of a student essay-contest run by the organizers got to read their entries to the thousands gathered on the Boston Common. We spotted a few children's book–related signs, such as "Make Way for Facts" and "I'm with her" referring to the Magic School Bus's Ms. Frizzle. And there was an entire kids' section with speakers (including, reportedly, Sy Montgomery and Jason Chin! Did anyone see their presentations? [Ed. note: Yes! Cindy did!] We missed them, unfortunately), activities, and free stuff.

I hope Cynthia Platt and her science-loving daughter were there. In her Family Reading post from last November, "On Raising a Scientist (Who Happens to Be a Girl)," Cynthia laments how other people treat her ten-year-old daughter's data-driven interests: "Grownups express surprise that she likes science and math — or tell her that girls don’t really like these subjects. Her peers tease her about doing math for fun." At the March for Science Boston, Cynthia's daughter would have been right at home.

And don't miss Out of the Box's Earth Day 2017 post from last Friday.

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