AAAS Annual Report 2007 Science, Technology, and Sustainable Well-Being The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal, Science (www.sciencemag.org). AAAS was founded in 1848, and serves 262 affiliated societ- ies and academies of science, reaching 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of 1 million. The non-profit AAAS (www.aaas.org) is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy; interna- tional programs; science education; and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, www.eurekalert.org, the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS. Table of Contents Welcome Letter 3 Public Statements 4 Science Policy and Society 6 Science Careers and Education 8 AAAS Worldwide 10 Science Breakthroughs 12 Science, Technology, and Security 14 Media and Public Engagement 16 AAAS Awards 18 Golden Fund Update 20 AAAS Fellows 22 Acknowledgment of Contributors and Patron Members 24 AAAS Board of Directors, Officers, and Information 33 2 Welcome from the AAAS Chair, John P. Holdren, and the CEO, Alan I. Leshner AAAS continues to work intensively on a wide range of issues to both advance science and to help address global societal problems that have science and technology components at their core. Ongoing initiatives focus on securing adequate funding and infrastructure support to further the scientific enterprise, and providing policy guidance on topics rang- ing from global climate change and energy requirements, to john p. holdren alan i. leshner embryonic stem cell research, to ensuring science literacy for children everywhere. and with another expert, he described emerging technologies In April 2007, for example, the AAAS Board of Directors for on-the-ground detection of uranium-enrichment plants. The called for increased support of Earth observation satellites Association’s growing alumni of Science and Technology Policy when U.S. federal funding cutbacks threatened research Fellows, meanwhile, increasingly made their mark, especially in related to weather forecasting, hurricane warning, and global December when three of the program’s 35th class participated climate change. Belt-tightening within the National Aeronautics in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali. AAAS and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic worked to increase support for the Stem Cell Research En- and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could cause “major hancement Act, too, by issuing a statement decrying the Presi- gaps in the continuity and quality of data gathered about the dent’s second veto of the initiative, which had twice passed Earth from space,” the AAAS Board warned. We were pleased in the House and Senate, with votes from Republicans and when the House of Representatives subsequently outlined Democrats alike. Association staff later teamed up with stem- an initial plan to restore funding for a satellite network, and cell pioneer James Thomson to publish an op-ed that appeared although most of the additional support had been red-lined in the Washington Post and at least nine other newspapers. by the year’s end, AAAS is continuing to push for a balanced Additional 2007 activities focused on sustaining and diver- federal R&D portfolio. sifying the science and technology workforce. A conference Another AAAS Board statement generated significant vis- organized by AAAS and related to the National Science Founda- ibility for the issue of global climate change in February, as tion’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergradu- part of a town hall-style event for some 1,200 participants in ate Program (HBCU-UP) drew some 700 attendees, as de- San Francisco, California. Global climate change is sure to take scribed on page 8. An equally successful event on K-12 science an increasing toll on vulnerable ecosystems and societies if curricula, hosted by Project 2061 at AAAS, prompted laudatory greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation go unchecked, comments from U.S. Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers (R-Mich.), a member the Board cautioned. The AAAS statement — released shortly of the House Committee on Science and Technology (page 9). after the Intergovernmental Panel on Global Climate Change The most urgent challenges of our age — improving the confirmed the connection between global climate change, lives of the world’s poor; competition for natural resources; fossil-fuel burning, and deforestation — was communicated imperiled oceans; the energy crisis; and alleviating the threat through media outlets including the Associated Press, the San of nuclear weapons — all hinge upon science and technology. Francisco Chronicle, the Kansas City Star, and New Jersey’s Star- Through its many programs and communications efforts, AAAS Ledger. The goal of all such efforts was to strengthen the case is seizing opportunities to mobilize the power of science to and political momentum for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. help ensure sustainable human well-being. AAAS also contributed to public discourse as well as science-based policy through testimony, op-ed articles in John P. Holdren Alan I. Leshner regional newspapers, and nearly two-dozen Capitol Hill techni- AAAS Chair (2007–2008) AAAS CEO and cal briefings by U.S. and international experts who shared Director, The Woods Hole Executive Publisher, objective, non-partisan expertise. James Acton of the Centre Research Center, and Teresa and John Science for Science and Security Studies at King’s College London, for Heinz Professor of Environmental example, assessed Iran’s potential to build a nuclear weapon, Policy, Harvard University 3 Public Statements Stimulating public dialogue and raising awareness of issues affecting the scientific enterprise are key goals for AAAS. Board statements, opinion essays in newspapers, letters to policy-makers, and major events all helped in 2007 to promote public engagement with science and technology. global climate change human embryonic Stem Science education • 18 February. In a consensus state- cell reSearch • 15 August. “National Standards: The ment approved 9 December 2006 • 20 June. AAAS again decried the U.S. Time Is Now for Washington to Heed and released at a town hall event 18 President’s veto of the Stem Cell the Call,” op-ed, The Washington February 2007, the AAAS Board of Research Enhancement Act, which Times, by the AAAS CEO. Directors noted that “global climate would expand federal support for hu- • 11 December. “Don’t Mess with Sci- change caused by human activities is man embryonic research. ence Standards,” op-ed, The Star- occurring now,” and called for “stron- • 3 December. “Standing in the Way of Telegram of Texas, by the AAAS CEO. ger leadership at all levels” to curb Stem Cell Research,” op-ed, Wash- This op-ed also appeared in The Waco greenhouse gas emissions. ington Post, by Leshner and stem-cell Tribune Herald on 13 December. • 28 April. The AAAS Board issued a researcher James Thomson. This statement calling for adequate fund- piece, republished in at least nine Science and Public engagement ing of Earth observation satellites newspapers, cautioned that “further • 26 October. “Celebremos las Histo- when budget cuts threatened the delays in pursuing the clearly viable rias de la Ciencia,” op-ed, El Pais of network critical to weather forecast- option of embryonic stem cells will Spain, by Science Executive Editor ing, hurricane warning, global climate result in an irretrievable loss of time.” Monica Bradford. This op-ed on change studies, and more. AAAS science communications helped to senior staff also testified on Science beyond borderS celebrate an honor bestowed upon Capitol Hill. • 8 January. “Building Science, Build- the journal Science by the Prince of ing Trust,” op-ed, The Kuwait Times, Asturias Foundation. evolution in the newS by the AAAS CEO and Farkhonda • 19 September. “Beyond the Teach- • 26 May. “Museum of Confusion,”op- Hassan, a professor of geology at able Moment,”op-ed, Journal of the ed, Lexington Herald-Leader. Exhib- the American University in Cairo, a American Medical Association, by the its depicting dinosaurs co-existing member of the Egyptian Parliament, AAAS CEO. with humans could confuse people, and then-secretary-general for the especially children, about the nature National Council for Women in Egypt. SuPPort for the Scientific enterPriSe of science, wrote AAAS CEO Alan I. • 6 June. AAAS issued a statement • 20 December. “While we recognize Leshner, executive publisher of declaring its opposition to a U.K. Uni- that both the Congress and the White Science. versity and College Union motion to House face many competing priori- • 1 June. “Faith, Reason and a G.O.P. boycott research collaborations with ties … we see a missed opportunity to Hopeful,” letter to the editors, New Israeli academic institutions. honor the commitment made by both York Times. “Religion should not • 16 July. “Use Science for Diplomacy, branches of government to support be substituted for science, nore the Not Division,” op-ed, The Baltimore basic research,” AAAS announced reverse,” the AAAS CEO wrote, in Sun, by the AAAS CEO. at the end of 2007, following up on response to an op-ed by Sen. Sam many previous efforts throughout the Brownback (R-Kansas). year to speak up for adequate R&D funding across all disciplines. 4 “Every scientist and technologist should tithe 10 percent of his or her professional time and effort to working to increase benefits of science and technology for the hu- man condition and to decrease the liabilities. The challenges demand no less.” john P. holdren, AAAS chAir (2007-2008), The WoodS hole reSeArch cenTer And hArvArd UniverSiTy • 28 February. In an ever-more technol- ogy-based economy, the AAAS CEO testified before a House appropria- tions subcommittee, “the federal gov- ernment needs a sustained commit- ment to a robust research portfolio.” • 7 March.