I'll be among the many non-scientists participating in the inaugural March for Science, which is taking place worldwide on Saturday.

None of us is untouched by science. We owe much of our prosperity to scientific progress. And many of the greatest issues facing humanity require us to get behind evidence-based research.

Intelligent and more patient capital that appreciates over the longer-term is more appropriate for deep technologies that often have an incubation period of upwards of six or seven years. Credit:iStock

Take antibiotic resistance, for example. The more antibiotics we use the more we promote antibiotic resistance. The World Health Organisation has listed 12 bacteria – including a strain of E.coli – for which new antibiotics are urgently needed.

Fixing this problem, considered a major threat to global security, isn't just the job of people in laboratories. The main cause of resistance is inappropriate use. Antibiotics are ineffective at treating colds and flu, caused by viruses. Yet Australian research shows most people believe antibiotics will help them recover more quickly from these ailments. And almost 60 per cent of GPs would prescribe antibiotics to meet patient expectations.