Inform & Influence S&T Policy 21: Disappointment with AAAS Leadership

Tonight was the opening keynotes from the AAAS leadership at the 2025 annual meeting. I must say I was disappointed.

Although a few minor acknowledgments of the challenges the science and technology community faces were made, the strongest statement regarded opposition to RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary. Most of the speeches focused on the wonders S&T brings to society and the fact that we have gone through these challenges before.

There was nothing wrong with what was said; my concern is more focused on what actions AAAS and other S&T policy leaders are not taking and what they think we (as individuals) should take to respond to these challenges.

Above is a screenshot from AAAS President Willie E. May's talk. He's a wonderful person who has accomplished great things, but to me, his "roll up your sleeves" actions are very weak.

1. Talk to your institutions -- Well, that might work if you are in a college or university and the focus is indirect costs, but most of us don't work in those settings. He should know that has a former NIST director. None of the people he led and worked with in his prior years fall into this category.

Those in the S&T community who are hurting RIGHT NOW are those who work for the federal government and the S&T nonprofits that support much of its work. They have no institution to talk to; the government institution they work for is hurting them.

2. Stay well-informed.?That is not an issue for those who have already lost their jobs or who may lose them soon. It's almost the opposite—they are doom-scrolling, hoping the world will get better and there will be a reprieve of some kind.

3. Mentor and encourage early-career scientists and engineers—again, sure. But it's hard to encourage someone who just got their first government S&T policy job as an early-career S&E who, because they are a provisional appointment in their first year, will likely soon lose their job—one they worked hard to get and love.

4. Be an active member of AAAS. Earlier today, I spoke with a leader of one of the sections to which I belong and asked why I hadn't heard about section meetings (so I have missed them the past few years). He responded that AAAS management won't allow them to send emails to all the members of their sections, so they can't even tell people like me about meetings. We're supposed to know what is happening through discussion boards that at least I don't have time to engage in. Plus, realistically (and I say this as a former AAAS section officer), sections don't do much. So I'm not sure what is meant here.

This was followed by a "call and response" by AAAS CEO?Sudip Parikh?about specific S&Ts that help society, which we've all heard before. Again, there's nothing wrong with that, but that's not how you convince policymakers not to fire federal government scientists, engineers, and health professionals.

My issue is that Sudip was also employed by the federal government. In his early career, he was a Presidential Management Intern at the NIH. Today, those Presidential Management Fellows are losing their jobs, so he would be somewhat sympathetic to their situation.

Further, he has a wonderful paragraph in his House Science testimony that I highlighted in a post last week:

"Second, last week, the announcement of an abrupt spending freeze on science and technology funding broke trust and hurt the S&T enterprise. This is the kind of action that, even if brief, can have a lasting negative impact. Many scientists, particularly those early in their careers, live paycheck-to-paycheck. I was most saddened to hear from these scientists who began questioning whether they should even continue their scientific pursuits or switch careers."

This is well said, but the fundamental question is: What will AAAS do to support these members of our community? So far, I've seen little action.

I understand that AAAS can only do so much about the actions this Administration takes, but it can do something about caring for our people.

Putting People First

Here are my top-of-the-head ideas to put people first:

1. Put out a statement such as the one above to show AAAS cares, AND provide weekly webinars to show you care and answer questions from the community worried about their challenges. A gold star if AAAS issues the statement jointly with NASEM.

There are some great webinars out there now, put together by the?Partnership for Public Service?and volunteers, but none focus on scientists, engineers, or health professionals. Why not partner with PPS? That is a low-cost action.

2. Put together a job board that connects people facing employment challenges -- whether they have already lost, or are worried that they will lose, their federal or federal-related job. AAAS could partner with?Work for America, which has put together a very useful CivicMatch board to either expand who is eligible to use their board or to add a focus on jobs for scientists, engineers, and health professionals.

3. Provide career coaching services for those who need that extra support. There are a number of career coaches already reviewed and approved for those in AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (including me!) whose services could be broadened to a broader audience. I would supplement that with mental health support for those who need it. Individual coaching sessions can be expensive, but smaller support groups make people feel less alone and reduce overall costs. Also, I've found that even one 45-minute coaching session can make a big difference in people's perceptions.

Next Steps

The three examples above are all immediately available actions that could be taken to support those in our S&T policy community facing challenges. Although I focused on those in government and related roles, the same situation could be faced by those in academic institutions.

The first two are low-cost. The third may need some financial support, but I suspect there are STEM-related foundations that would be willing to provide funding for a short period of time—say, the rest of this calendar year.

Further, I'm not one of those who has been significantly impacted. The final strategy should be determined by those individuals who are impacted now are are likely to be impacted in the near future.

Still, my ideas are at least a starting point for a discussion about making AAAS a more supportive organization of its membership. I hope the S&T disciplinary societies will also be willing to support this effort along with the leadership of our other major S&T policy organizations.

Please consider this, AAAS leadership. Rather than telling us to "Roll Up Your Sleeves," how about you do it for your members and the S&T community?

AAAS has the staff -- how about redirecting their energies for a few months to support AAAS members? I didn't hear anything more urgent on the AAAS agenda for the next year than supporting those in our S&T community.

Thought anyone? Might it be possible to end this AAAS annual meeting with a stronger ending than its beginning? I think so.

#AAASmtg

Thanks for Reading!

I am Dr. Deborah D. Stine, the founder of the?Science & Technology (S&T) Policy Academy.?The academy offers organizational workshops, “done for you” policy analysis, and career, leadership, and new business coaching services.

I spent over 30 years in Washington DC, working for the Obama White House as executive director of the President’s Council on Science and Technology (PCAST), an S&T policy specialist at the Congressional Research Service (a think tank for Congress), and 18 years at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, directing studies on innumerable S&T policy topics.

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