American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Association for the Advancement of Science. The American Association for the Advancement of Science is one of the world's largest and most influential general scientific societies, dedicated to advancing science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people. Founded in 1848, it serves as an authoritative voice for the scientific community, promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, and improving the effectiveness of science in the promotion of human welfare. Its mission encompasses a broad range of activities from publishing cutting-edge research and organizing international conferences to shaping public policy and fostering public engagement with science.

History

The organization was established on September 20, 1848, in Philadelphia, following a meeting of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists. Prominent founders included Alexander Dallas Bache, great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin, and William Barton Rogers, who would later found the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Its creation was part of a broader 19th-century movement to professionalize American science, providing a national forum distinct from more specialized societies like the American Philosophical Society. Early meetings and published proceedings helped unify the nation's scientific efforts, and figures such as Louis Agassiz and Joseph Henry were among its early presidents. Throughout its history, it has been involved in pivotal moments, including advising the United States Congress on the establishment of the National Academy of Sciences and supporting the creation of the National Science Foundation.

Organization and governance

The association is governed by a Board of Directors elected by its membership, which includes scientists, engineers, and interested members of the public from over 90 countries. The board sets strategic direction and policy, while day-to-day operations are managed by a chief executive officer, currently Sudip Parikh. It is structured into 24 disciplinary sections, covering fields from Agriculture, Food & Renewable Resources to Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering, each with its own elected officers. Key elected leadership positions include a president, president-elect, and chair of the board, with recent presidents including figures like Margaret Hamburg and Geraldine Richmond. Major governance decisions are often made during the annual meeting, and the association maintains its headquarters in Washington, D.C., strategically located to engage with entities like the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy.

Activities and programs

A primary activity is the annual meeting, a major interdisciplinary scientific conference that attracts thousands of participants from around the globe to discuss groundbreaking research and pressing societal issues. Its Office of Public Programs runs significant public engagement efforts, including the AAAS Center for Public Engagement with Science and Technology. The association is deeply involved in science policy, providing congressional testimony and producing reports for bodies like the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It administers the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships, which place hundreds of scientists in year-long assignments within the U.S. Government, including agencies like the State Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. Other key initiatives include the AAAS EPI Center (Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues) and programs aimed at advancing STEM education and diversity in science.

Publications

The flagship publication is the internationally renowned journal Science, one of the world's preeminent peer-reviewed scientific periodicals, first published in 1880 with support from Thomas Edison and later purchased by the organization in 1900. The association also publishes the family of Science Signaling, Science Translational Medicine, and Science Immunology journals, as well as the digital magazine Science Advances, an open-access journal. Its news division provides comprehensive coverage of scientific developments through ScienceNOW and in-depth reporting in Science Insider. Furthermore, it issues critical policy reports, symposium proceedings, and the AAAS News newsletter to keep its membership and the broader community informed.

Affiliates and partners

The association serves as a umbrella organization for nearly 250 affiliated societies and academies, representing over 10 million individuals, including major groups like the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society, and the American Geophysical Union. It maintains formal partnerships with international bodies such as The World Academy of Sciences and the International Science Council. Through the AAAS Science Diplomacy Center, it collaborates with foreign ministries and global NGOs. It also works closely with educational institutions, federal agencies like NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and philanthropic foundations such as the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to advance shared scientific goals.

Notable members and awards

Throughout its history, the association has counted an extraordinary number of distinguished scientists among its members, including over 200 Nobel Prize laureates such as Albert Einstein, Linus Pauling, and Francis Crick. It confers several prestigious awards, most notably the AAAS Fellow distinction, awarded annually for scientifically or socially distinguished achievements. Other major honors include the AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility, the AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize for outstanding papers published in Science, and the AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Prize for exceptional service to the scientific community. Notable past presidents, beyond its founders, include Jane Lubchenco, the first woman to serve as administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Steven Chu, former United States Secretary of Energy.