VOLUME 33 APRIL 2005 NUMBER 4 AAAS 2005 Meeting Was Where Science Meets Society, And Sociology Was There, Too At 125th AAAS Annual Meeting, ASA exhibits, sociological research Scientists Warn of Conceptual Traps Concerning Genetics and “Race” in reigns, and ASA President Duster participates in press conference new genetic map of human populations by Johanna Ebner, science organization and there is not a by Lee Herring, Public Affairs Office, and data and their potential to appear to Public Information Office high concentration among attendees Mercedes Rubio, Minority Affairs Program endorse a gene basis for the social representing any single discipline, construct of race. Science advocates and national including sociology.” But there was Across the globe, the human genetic policymakers, scientists and students, strong interest among physicists, blueprint is 99.99 percent similar across Genetic Signposts parents and children all found common microbiologists, geneticists, teachers, individuals. But hopeful that the What the Perlegen researchers ground at the 2005 Annual Meeting of and many others, especially in ASA’s remaining variations may be predictive successfully aimed to create was a the American Association for the research materials (e.g., science disciplin- of an individual’s risk for particular detailed map of key genetic signposts Advancement of Science (AAAS), ary demographics, use of supplementary disease and responsiveness to specific (among subjects from three physically according to AAAS CEO Alan Leshner. faculty, and tenure issues). ASA Section treatments, biotech researchers are distinct human populations) in an effort And given the sociological relevance of information on knowledge and science, inspecting these variations closely. The to identify common disease-related the theme of AAAS’ meeting, “The technology, environment, medicine, small remaining percentage of genetic DNA variations that might aid the Nexus: Where Science Meets Society,” addiction, and mental health on display variations notwithstanding, gene-based development of effective, population- ASA was a prominent exhibitor at this at the booth also was of great interest, explanations for differences in complex targeted pharmacological treatments. th 125 Annual Meeting, held in Washing- according to Herring. Sociologists (and social outcomes have been endemic to The scientifically naïve and even some ton, DC. many other disciplines) were pleased to scientific and casual discourse since the biologists themselves may view Following the meeting, AAAS see the American Sociological Associa- 17th century. Perlegen’s new map of human diversity reported, “attendance records were tion officially represented in the AAAS Unfortunately, often-oversimplified as biological validation of socio-cultural broken in almost every category.” And exhibit hall. discourse could become more prevalent delineations of racial categories. the nearly 5,100 attendees had a choice One of 252 science societies affiliated following recent findings of a biotech Well aware of the potential for of almost 200 interdisciplinary symposia, officially with AAAS, ASA was repre- research team from the California-based misinterpretation of the genetic data, plenary sessions, and topical presenta- sented at the meeting in order to Perlegen Sciences, Inc. The potential for AAAS editorial staff felt it necessary to tions, some of which included sociologi- promote our publications, Annual over-simplification prompted the include commentary in Science magazine cal papers. About 1,200 members of the Meeting in Philadelphia, the ASA scientists to publicly reiterate ASA from knowledgeable social scientists and press reported scientific breakthroughs centennial, and answer questions about President Troy Duster’s warnings at a to include this perspective in the press including the release of the Science paper sociology as a discipline. Our “sociologi- Washington, DC, AAAS Annual Meeting press conference on February 17. Duster describing the first whole genome See Genetics, page 3 mapping effort to assess allele variation See AAAS Meeting, page 4 urged scientists and the public alike to across three human populations. be alert to conceptual illusions in the Finally, about 3,000 people of all ages attended the Family Science Days. Reflecting on ASA’s Science & Society Centennial Year, 2005 “AAAS members support a vital connection between science At this time 99 years ago . Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle had just exposed the and society,” said Leshner squalor, corruption, and cruelty within the Chicago meat-packing industry, creating following the meeting, and this a popular sensation that prompted the Roosevelt administration to mount a federal was clearly born out in the investigation and brought needed reforms. Meanwhile, the American Sociological experience of the ASA staff who Society began assessing other social ills, as well, with its new “army” of 115 charter manned the ASA exhibit booth. members who just elected their first president, Lester Ward, and held an inaugural “We received a surprising Annual Meeting in Providence, RI (1906). amount of traffic to the ASA 85 years ago . the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed, guaranteeing Among the many exhibits at the AAAS meeting was the women’s suffrage, and that year the Alpha Kappa Delta international sociology exhibit booth,” said Lee Herring, American Sociological Association booth, which drew ASA’s Director of Public Affairs, crowds of social scientists happy to see a familiar face (or honor society was founded by University of Southern California sociologist Emory “given that AAAS is a general discipline) and other scientists interested in what the “other S. Bogardus for the purposes of stimulating scholarship and promoting the scientific half” does. study of society (1920). 56 years ago . the Soviet Union (Russia) test exploded its first atomic bomb, using virtually all the plutonium it had on hand, and in that same year the American “Culture Wars” Explored at Contexts Forum Sociological Society Executive Office was established at New York University tapping Matilda White Riley with her legendary high-energy personality, to serve by Johanna Ebner, discussing the current legitimacy of the part-time as the first Executive Officer (1949). Public Information Office culture wars concept. At New York 19 years ago . the illegal Iran “arms-for-hostages” deal was exposed, initiating the University (NYU), two nationally known controversial and scandalous Iran-Contra Affair in the Reagan White House, but Sociological fter a close and bitter 2004 sociologists and two nationally known without equivalent controversy or scandal ASA began publishing A Methodology and Sociological Theory (1986). presidential election, the dispute over public intellectuals discussed the culture whether the United States is experienc- wars imbroglio. ing a de facto “culture war,” stubbornly Council Appoints New ASA Editors graces the front pages of national media Increasing Visibility and the headlines of TV news seemingly As the latest issue of Contexts (Issue 1, During their respective meetings in December 2004 and February 2005, the ASA daily. And like Night of the Living Dead Volume 4) was sent off to press, the Committee on Publications recommended, and ASA Council approved, new monster creatures, daily news topics magazine’s new editors James M. Jasper editors for Contemporary Sociology, the Rose Series in Sociology, and Sociology of continuously resurrect the culture war and Jeff Goodwin, NYU, planned the Education. public debate. Are the “culture wars” forum to increase the visibility of the The new editors’ official terms will begin in January 2006, with editorial transi- actually nothing more than monster magazine. Jasper and Goodwin’s NYU tions taking place in late summer 2005. The new editors are: creatures of the country’s insatiable, 24/ colleague Eric Klinenberg organized the Contemporary Sociology: Valerie Jenness, David A. Smith, and Judith Stepan- 7 news-cycle-feeding frenzy? event, titled “How Many Americas?: Norris, University of California-Irvine Whatever their origin, given the Culture Wars and U.S. Politics,” and Rose Series in Sociology: Said Arjomand, SUNY-Stony Brook; Javier Auyero, intensity and longevity of values- moderated the panel of three speakers. SUNY-Stony Brook; Diane Barthel-Bouchier, SUNY-Stony Brook; Cynthia Bogard, focused national debates, it is fitting that Their comments were intended also to Hofstra University; Michael Kimmel, SUNY-Stony Brook; Naomi Rosenthal, SUNY- the launch of ASA’s prize-winning spark ideas for material and topics for Old Westbury/Stony Brook; and Michael Schwartz, SUNY-Stony Brook Contexts magazine’s new editorial team publication in Contexts, whose content is Sociology of Education: Barbara Schneider, NORC/University of Chicago (see May/June 2004 Footnotes) would As they become available, Footnotes will run biographies of the new editors as engage sociologists and journalists well as addresses for the new editorial offices. See Contexts, page 4 PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 2 APRIL 2005 FOOTNOTES The Executive Officer’s Column In This Issue . Rumors of Departmental Decline Are Articles accompanied by the logo are part Greatly Exaggerated of a series commemorating ASA’s centennial year. Washington’s emerging cherry blossoms make it an The series began in the January 2005 Footnotes. especially nice time to linger in DC, but the ASA staff sociologists are still on the road as