Dear Member,

I hope you had a restorative holiday season that brought you moments of peace and joy.

Last year, our community contended with a cascade of challenges while maintaining our commitment to the discovery and innovation that have driven the American economy and advanced the health and wellbeing of people around the world for generations. At a profoundly uncertain time, AAAS responded by speaking up strategically and in partnership with other leading organizations to give science a unified and powerful voice. While hoping for a better year to come, we are prepared for additional challenges and continue to advocate vigorously for science, particularly in the days leading up to the January 30 U.S. federal budget deadline. We are encouraged by the favorable outcomes in the House and Senate compromise for NSF, DOE, NIST, the EPA and NASA. Damage was done in 2025, but these potential funding outcomes are miles ahead of what was feared. This will not have happened by accident. If they become law, they will have been the result of a focused and heavily resourced strategy. You can learn more by visiting our federal R&D dashboard, and we will keep the community up to date as final votes are made in both chambers.

With renewed energy ahead for the new year, maintaining a strong community has never mattered more. This year, you will see events and offerings designed to ensure that AAAS is increasingly a place for making meaningful connections and helping you engage in the ways that are important to you. To start, I hope to see you at the AAAS Annual Meeting to stoke your scientific passion and maybe even start something new with other members. Last year’s meeting inspired early-career researchers to create a national grassroots coalition dedicated to building training, mentorship and community infrastructure. Several cofounders of the Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP) will tell the story behind these efforts in a plenary on February 13. Join us by registering now to reserve your place in Phoenix from February 12-14.

One final bit of awe from 2025 is the 2025 Breakthrough of the Year. Science celebrated that - for the first time - the world produced more energy from renewables than coal.

I’m confident this year will bring many more breakthroughs — thanks to you, and our community.

Sudip S. Parikh, Ph.D. 
Chief Executive Officer, AAAS  
Executive Publisher, Science Journals

P.S. I encourage you to participate in the AAAS election that will be held later this month and play a role in selecting strong leadership for the year ahead. AAAS Members will receive voting information in the coming weeks, including details on the candidates for President-elect, the AAAS Board, and Section leadership roles.