May 2023 Member Update

MAY 2023 MEMBER UPDATE

SPOTLIGHTS | NEWS & UPDATES | AWARDS & OPPORTUNITIES | EVENTS

MEMBER AND PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS

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Telling Better Science Stories
AAAS Fellow Sunshine Menezes

Storytelling, says scientist, environmental communication professor and AAAS Fellow Sunshine Menezes is an integral part of scientists’ jobs. When shared in a relevant, respectful, entertaining, and compelling way with public audiences—those people who aren’t focused first and foremost on research—science stories can improve lives, unveil wrongdoing, and influence policy. The problem is that most scientists, she says, aren’t great communicators.

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Combat Misinformation With Trust
S&T Policy Fellow Bandana Kar

Building resilience is a central focus of Science and Technology Policy Fellow Bandana Kar's work. One of its core threats, however, is misinformation, the scientist says. The spread of misinformation during extreme weather events like tropical storms, wildfires, tornados, and floods can be as deadly as the events themselves. Misinformation can cause communities to downplay the severity of a storm, putting them at higher risk of injury or death.

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Supporting Women of Color in STEMM
AAAS Member Fay Cobb Payton

When AAAS tapped Fay Cobb Payton to create a panel discussion for its 2023 Annual Meeting in March, she saw it as a chance to infuse humanity into the sciences. Based on Payton’s experience as the former National Science Foundation’s Computer Information Science and Engineering program director, she knew exactly who she wanted on her panel and turned to the only other Black women to hold the same position that she did.

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Equity Needed For Research Integrity
AAAS Member Vincent Larivière

Scientific contributions by women are often shortchanged, but just how much is that happening? Information scientist Vincent Larivière employs bibliometrics, the use of statistical methods to analyze publications, to put hard numbers on how women in science have long been trivialized and devalued. He has analyzed millions of research papers, finding big differences in article production and recognition for women scientists.

NEWS & UPDATES

The twenty-four Section Steering Committees are beginning to put together their slates of candidates for the next election. Section Steering Committees are composed of a Section Chair, Secretary, Council Member, Nominations/Leadership Development Chair, Membership Engagement Chair, Non-academic Representative, Early-Career Representative, and two At-large Representatives. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else for one of these positions, please fill out this form.

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