Spring 2021 Bulletin
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Advancing Access to Civil Justice STEPS TOWARD INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE GOVERNANCE Featuring William Nordhaus, Pinelopi Goldberg, and Scott Barrett HONORING WILLIAM LABOV, RUTH LEHMANN , AND GERTRUD SCHÜPBACH SPRING 2021 SELECT UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS May 6 A Conversation with Architect 27 Reflections on a Full, Consequential, Jeanne Gang and Lucky Life: Science, Leadership, Featuring: Jeanne Gang and Education Featuring: Walter E. Massey (left) in conversation with Don Randel (right) June 14 Lessons Learned from Reckoning with Organizational History Featuring: John J. DeGioia, Brent Leggs, Susan Goldberg, Claudia Rankine, and Ben Vinson 13 Finding a Shared Narrative Hosted by the Library of Congress Featuring: Danielle Allen, winner of the Library’s 2020 Kluge Prize Above: “Our Common Purpose” featuring the Juneteenth flag with one star. Artist: Rodrigo Corral For a full and up-to-date listing of upcoming events, please visit amacad.org/events. SPRING 2021 CONTENTS Flooding beside the Russian River on Westside Road in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California; February 27, 2019. Features 16 Steps Toward International 38 Honoring Ruth Lehmann and Gertrud Climate Governance Schüpbach with the Francis Amory Prize William Nordhaus, Pinelopi Goldberg, and Scott Barrett Ruth Lehmann and Gertrud Schüpbach 30 Honoring William Labov with the Talcott Parsons Prize William Labov CONTENTS 5 Among the contributors to the Dædalus issue on “Immigration, Nativism & Race” (left to right): Douglas S. Massey (guest editor), Christopher Sebastian Parker, and Cecilia Menjívar Our Work 5 Dædalus Explores Immigration, Nativism & Race in the United States 7 Advancing Civil Justice Access in the 21st Century 7 10 New Reports on the Earnings & Job Outcomes of College Graduates 14 Our Common Purpose in Communities Across the Country Members 53 In Memoriam: Louis W. Cabot 55 Noteworthy 58 Ways to Engage with the Academy 59 The Academy & Its Future Departments 3 From the President 60 From the Archives 60 As the Academy emerges from this difficult year, we have good news to share as well. Despite the challenges we have faced, our Academy community has remained active and vibrant. From the President s I write this letter, we have just passed a som- This issue of the Bulletin reflects the lively pace of the ber milestone: one full year since the COVID-19 Academy’s virtual life during the past year. In particular, A crisis fundamentally altered so many aspects we were pleased to host virtual events bestowing two of of our lives. We look back in solemn reflection on a year the Academy’s most revered prizes. In January, we gath- of illness, loss, and upheaval. And yet as we emerge into ered to honor pioneering linguist William Labov with this spring season, we have reason to look forward with the Talcott Parsons Prize for distinguished and original hope. An accelerated vaccination campaign promises a contributions to the social sciences. And in February, we gradual return to normal life in the months ahead. Af- awarded the Francis Amory Prize in Reproductive Medi- ter a period of political upheaval culminating in the dis- cine and Reproductive Physiology to scientists Ruth Leh- turbing events of January 6th, there is now an opportu- mann and Gertrud M. Schüpbach for their significant nity to rebuild our institutions and bring our country contributions to areas including DNA repair, embryon- together once again. And after a year of heartbreaking ic development, RNA regulation, and stem cell research. incidents of racial injustice, we see a new, broad-based These virtual events allowed hundreds of participants movement to create a more just society. from around the world, including friends, family, and As the Academy emerges from this difficult year, we former students, to gather to honor the prize recipients. have good news to share as well. Despite the challenges Our members showed up for the Academy this year we have faced, our Academy community has remained not only through their participation but also through active and vibrant. Following the Academy’s rapid shift their generosity. In February, we celebrated the largest to virtual programming last spring, we have gathered gift in the Academy’s 241-year history, a $10 million do- for more than 50 virtual events, setting records for at- nation from investor and patriotic philanthropist David tendance–both in terms of unique members attend ing Rubenstein. A portion of this gift will allow us to build one event and in terms of total attendance, including a new addition to our building to house the Academy’s non-members. Our virtual programming has also al- archival collections and make them more accessible lowed us to reach larger and more dispersed audiences. to members, students, and scholars. This gift will also In fiscal year 2021, members participated in virtual support our projects in civil justice, economic inequali- events from 22 countries, 36 states, and 220 different ty, and democratic and civic engagement. cities. And I personally had the privilege of meeting vir- The Academy also received a grant of $1 million tually with hundreds of members through one-on-one from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to implement the meetings, committees, and project groups. recommendations in Our Common Purpose, the final FROM THE PRESIDENT 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT report of the Commission on the Practice of Demo- age of 95. Stephen served on the Academy’s membership cratic Citizenship, described in more detail in this is- committees and provided major philanthropic support sue of the Bulletin. We are indebted to Academy mem- for research projects in the areas of science, engineering, ber and Rockefeller Brothers Fund President and CEO and technology as well as American institutions. Through Stephen Heintz for his energetic commitment to build- his generous support, the auditorium that bears his name ing a more responsive and representative democracy. at the House of the Academy has become a beloved gath- We also received a gift of $1 million from the William J. ering place for our global community of members. By and Lia G. Poorvu Foundation to spur innovation and asking the fundamental question “What makes a good to enable the thoughtful and inclusive planning of new citizen?” Stephen also inspired the creation of the Com- projects. mission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship, for As we strive in the next year to complete our $100 which The S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation provided prin- million Campaign for the Academy and its Future, we cipal support. With Stephen’s passing, the Academy’s are honored by this overwhelming vote of confidence commitment to implementing the Commission’s rec- in our work and humbled by the commitment of our ommendations takes on even deeper meaning. members to the Academy’s future vitality. Thank you for all you do for the Academy, and please As we reflect on the generosity of our members and feel free to reach out to me personally if there are ways their commitment to the Academy’s work in service of you would like to become involved in our work to ad- the common good, we also honor the life of Stephen D. vance knowledge in service of the nation and the world. Bechtel, Jr., who passed away on March 15, 2021, at the David W. Oxtoby A plaque recognizing Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr., hangs in the Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. Auditorium at the House of the Academy in Cambridge, MA. It reads: Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. is Chairman (retired) and a Director of Bechtel Group, Inc. He is also Chairman Emeritus and a Director of Fremont Group, LLC, separate affili- ated companies that manage and operate in marketable securities, natural resourc- es. and other selected investments. In addition, Mr. Bechtel is Chairman of the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. His business headquarters are in San Francisco, California. Mr. Bechtel served as the third-generation head of the worldwide engineering and construction business that began in 1898 as a small Western railroad construction firm. Today Bechtel Group, Inc. provides a broad range of technical, construction, and management services to clients in many industries around the globe. including power, petroleum and chemicals, surface transportation, aviation facilities, water supply and treatment, infrastructure development, pipe- lines, mining and metals, and telecommunications. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and a Master’s degree in Business Admin- istration from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He served as a Director on the boards of several major corporations, including General Motors and IBM. Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford each appointed him to Presidential committees and commissions. The recipient of numerous industry, academic, and professional society awards, Mr. Bechtel served several industry and community organizations as Chairman, including The Business Coun- cil, The Conference Board, Inc., and the National Academy of Engineering. He was Vice Chairman of the California Council for Science and Technology Task Force in 2006, advising the Governor of California on increasing the state’s technical talent pool by improving K–12 science and mathematics education. Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1990, he has served on membership committees and provided major support for research projects in Science, Engineering, and Technology as well as capital improvement of the house. The American Academy is grateful for his continuing interest and his extraordinary support for projects and programs. 4 Spring 2021 • Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences New Dædalus Issue Explores Immigration, Nativism & Race ysfunctional immigration pol - Christopher Maggio’s analysis of Trump exploited years of failed icies implemented in recent General Social Survey data found immigration and border policy to Ddecades have accelerated that Whites who favored restrict- take power. César Cuauhtémoc growth of the Latino population and ing immigration and expressed ra- García Hernández documents the racialized its members around the cial resentment toward Blacks were steady criminalization of immi- trope of illegality.