National Science Appreciation Day

National Science Appreciation Day has been established by the Center for Inquiry's ScienceSaves campaign in 2022.^[2] As of 2023, ten States had adopted official proclamations recognizing the commemoration: Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as District of Columbia.^[3][4] By 2025, many more states had issued proclamations, including Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Vermont.^[5]

The date has been chosen to commemorate the 1953 announcement by Jonas Salk of the first successful clinical trials of the first polio vaccine.^[6]

On March 26, the public is invited to share stories of how scientific advances have improved or saved lives. Suggested activities include:

• Celebrate scientific achievements
• Give thanks to workers in every field of science and medicine
• Raise awareness of the importance of critical thinking
• Lobby for science in public policy^[3]
• Attend or host a science fair^[7]
• Visit a museum or science center and explore interactive workshops or exhibits^[8]
• Select a scientist, researcher, or inventor and read everything you can find about them^[9]