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Scientists are protesting Trump’s inauguration with a nerdy celebration of research

Vaccines work, climate change is real — and scientists’ tweets for the Trump administration.

By Julia Belluz
Donald Trump and his wife Melania on Inauguration Day.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

When President Barack Obama was sworn into office in 2009, he promised to “restore science to its rightful place.”

Eight years later, the scientific community is bracing for a considerably more contentious relationship with President-elect Donald Trump. From his loose relationship with facts, to his denial of climate change, his low-opinion of the National Institutes of Health, and his meeting with an anti-vaccine leader, Trump has signaled that his administration will not just challenge proven scientific principles, but also undo the significant science policy progress of President Obama.

Enter the #USofScience hashtag. Researchers are using Inauguration Day to stand up for science, filling social media with celebratory comments about discoveries, debunking some of Trump’s anti-science claims, and reminding the public that many of our favorite inventions came from basic research. It’s the nerdiest hashtag to watch today.

Watch: A history of US inaction on climate change

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