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American Association for the Advancement of Science | HearLore
American Association for the Advancement of Science
On the 20th of September 1848, seventy-eight men gathered inside the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. They formed a new group called the American Association for the Advancement of Science. William Charles Redfield stood before them as their first president because he had drafted the most detailed plans for this organization. The meeting minutes from that Friday afternoon show Matthew Fontaine Maury presenting his Wind and Current Charts to the room. He told the assembly that hundreds of ship navigators were sending abstract logs to the United States Naval Observatory. A resolution passed later that day appointed five professors to help Maury secure foreign observations for his charts. These men included Joseph Henry from Washington and Benjamin Peirce from Cambridge. Only 78 people joined the association at its birth. By 1850, the group accepted its first female members: astronomer Maria Mitchell and entomologist Margaretta Morris.
Civil War Dormancy And Revival
The August 1861 meeting scheduled for Nashville, Tennessee never took place after fighting broke out at Bull Run. Membership numbers had swelled to over 2,000 by 1860 before the Civil War halted all activities. Frederick Barnard presided over the first gathering of the resurrected AAAS in New York City during 1866. The society allowed anyone to join regardless of scientific credentials following the war. It also created a new title called Fellow of the AAAS for well-respected scientists within the ranks. Competition emerged from several newly formed societies like the National Academy of Sciences founded in 1863. The American Chemical Society arrived in 1876 while the Archaeological Institute of America began operations in 1879. Alexander Dallas Bache used the society as a lobbying tool for his agency known as the US Coast Survey. This action tarnished the reputation of the organization and caused many prominent scientists to lose interest. The influence of the group declined significantly during these years.
When was the American Association for the Advancement of Science founded and where did it happen?
The American Association for the Advancement of Science formed on the 20th of September 1848 inside the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Seventy-eight men gathered to establish this new group with William Charles Redfield serving as their first president.
Who were the early leaders and members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science during its founding years?
William Charles Redfield drafted the plans and became the first president while Matthew Fontaine Maury presented Wind and Current Charts at the initial meeting. Joseph Henry from Washington and Benjamin Peirce from Cambridge joined five professors appointed to secure foreign observations for Maury's charts.
How did the American Association for the Advancement of Science change after the Civil War ended?
Frederick Barnard presided over the first gathering of the resurrected AAAS in New York City during 1866 following the war. The society allowed anyone to join regardless of scientific credentials and created a new title called Fellow of the AAAS for well-respected scientists within the ranks.
What major publication partnership did the American Association for the Advancement of Science establish in 1900?
A partnership with the journal Science became the official publication of the society in 1900 providing revenue through subscriptions and advertising for the first time. The AAAS gained sole ownership of Science in 1946 after World War II ended.
When was the Congressional Fellowship program started by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and who funded it?
A Congressional Fellowship program started in 1973 thanks to a donation of $10,000 from William T. Golden. These financial shifts transformed the association into a major economic entity capable of funding broader initiatives.
A partnership with the journal Science became the official publication of the society in 1900. This arrangement provided revenue through subscriptions and advertising for the first time. The AAAS gained sole ownership of Science in 1946 after World War II ended. Sales figures grew due to major breakthroughs such as space flight, nuclear power, and the discovery of DNA. Editors Dael Wolfle served from 1954 until 1970 while William D. Carey led from 1974 to 1985. Their shrewd business decisions multiplied sales numbers further. A Congressional Fellowship program started in 1973 thanks to a donation of $10,000 from William T. Golden. These financial shifts transformed the association into a major economic entity capable of funding broader initiatives. The journal remains the flagship publication today alongside other peer-reviewed titles like Science Signaling.
Modern Advocacy And Policy Work
Alan I. Leshner served as CEO from 2001 until 2015 and published numerous op-ed articles about science integration. He opposed inserting non-scientific content like creationism or intelligent design into school curricula. An official statement on climate change appeared in December 2006 declaring global warming caused by human activities. Satellite images documented human rights abuses in Burma during February 2007. The Center for Science Diplomacy launched the following year to advance relationships among partner countries. Budget sequestration threats prompted events on Capitol Hill in September 2012 where AAAS released analyses of federal research-and-development budgets. These actions warned that severe consequences would follow if cuts were implemented. The organization continues to engage politically through statements and policy work while maintaining its scientific mission.
Governance Structure And Leadership
A unique three-year term system governs individuals elected to the presidency of the AAAS. The first year serves as president-elect, the second as president, and the third as chairperson of the board of directors. Geraldine Richmond held office for 2015, 16 while Phillip Sharp chaired the board. Barbara A. Schaal became president-elect after taking office on the last day of the 2015 Annual Meeting in February. Past presidents include explorer John Wesley Powell who served in 1888 and anthropologist Margaret Mead in 1975. Stephen Jay Gould led the group in 2000. Administrative officers execute daily functions including the executive officer, treasurer, and section secretaries. Sudip Parikh currently serves as CEO and executive publisher of Science magazine. Holden Thorp holds the position of Editor in Chief of Science magazine. The Council meets annually to discuss matters of importance to the association. Members serve three-year terms within this body.
Scientific Sections And Fellowships
The society covers various areas of sciences and engineering through twenty-four distinct sections. Each section contains a committee with its own chair responsible for annual evaluations. These committees select Fellows every year based on distinguished scientific contributions. The list includes Agriculture, Food & Renewable Resources alongside Anthropology and Astronomy. Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Dentistry and Oral Health Sciences form part of the roster. Engineering, Geology and Geography, History and Philosophy of Science appear among the groups. Mathematics, Medical Sciences, Neuroscience, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physics, Psychology, Statistics complete the set. Election to AAAS is an honor bestowed by peers and presented with a certificate and rosette pin. Status can be revoked starting the 15th of October 2018 in cases of proven scientific misconduct or serious breaches of professional ethics. Affiliates include 262 societies serving more than 10 million members from the Acoustical Society of America to the Wildlife Society.
Publications And Media Outreach
Science serves as the flagship weekly interdisciplinary journal published by the society. Other peer-reviewed titles include Science Signaling, Science Translational Medicine, Science Immunology, Science Robotics, and Science Advances. Non-peer-reviewed content appears under Science & Diplomacy while Science Books & Films was previously released. SciLine launched following an announcement in an the 27th of October 2017 article written by Rick Weiss. This service connects U.S. journalists to scientists and validated information through expert-matching and media briefings. Approximately 2,000 requests came from 650 journalists by July 2021. Financial supporters include the Quadrivium Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, and Heinz Endowments. EurekAlert! started operations in 1996 as an editorially independent nonprofit news release distribution service. More than 14,000 reporters from over 90 countries registered for free access by early 2018. Over 5,000 active public information officers from 2,300 universities provide new releases through the system.