It’s been a weird few years for science. Even as debates over climate change have turned increasingly political and many elected officials have incited the public to distrust scientific data, now that we’re in the middle of a global pandemic, people are expecting major scientific breakthroughs at lightning speed. And then there are those of us who continue to believe in science, research and the need for empirical evidence. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, you’re probably (hopefully) going to be staying in this weekend anyway, so you may be interested in an upcoming science festival and fundraiser called LIVEMEDAID.
What is it?
Now that scientists and medical experts have become the rockstars (and in some cases, sex symbols) of COVID-19, it makes sense that they’re getting their own festival—available via livestream, naturally. It’s called LIVEMEDAID, and all the proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and frontline healthcare workers in the global fight against COVID-19.
It’s a pretty stellar lineup, beginning with the headliner, Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned ethologist and conservationist. Other science heavy-hitters on the schedule include:
- Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson: astrophysicist, cosmologist, planetary scientist and author
- Dr. David Suzuki: environmental activist
- Dr. Wade Davis: anthropologist, ethnobotanist, author, National Geographic Explorer and TED speaker
- Dr. Paula Botempi: NASA biological oceanographer who teaches the Earth Science module of NASA’s astronaut training class
- Dr. Sarah Ives: Netflix Documentary, “Pandemic”
- Dr. Katherine Hayhoe: climate scientist
- Dr. Isaac Bogoch: infectious Disease doctor at Toronto General Hospital
- Dr. Anders Tegnell: state epidemiologist of Sweden.
There are musical acts, too, including Earth, Wind and Fire, METRIC, Queen + Adam Lambert and Ed Robertson (one of the Barenaked Ladies… a Barenaked Lady?).
How to watch
The event will take place this Saturday, May 9 from 6 p.m. EST to 11 p.m. EST, and will stream live on LIVEMEDAID social channels including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, and on www.livemedaid.com. To donate now or during the livestream, go to the event’s donations page and click on your location (the United States, Canada or “International”). Those who donate in the U.S. and Canada will receive tax receipts. All viewers regardless of location will come away with new science knowledge and a few hours of entertainment.
