The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Council has approved a new policy to revoke the honors of AAAS Fellows due to misconduct or ethical concerns.
The new measure is in response to a recent public letter and social media anti-harassment campaign headed by ESSIC / CICS-MD associate research professor and Leshner Fellow Melissa Kenney, among other Leshner Fellows. Nearly 1000 supporters signed the letter.
“As Leshner Fellows, we will continue to urge AAAS to take the lead in efforts that promote a more diverse and inclusive scientific community, and to work in our own institutions and communities towards that goal. We urge you to join us in continuing to send a message that harassment has no place in science, and to help change the culture for the better,” said the fellows in response to this policy change.
To review past reporting on this effort, click here. To see the letter the Leshner Fellows published in Science, click here. To see their statements on this occurence, see the recent Maryland Today article.
In addition to her work with ESSIC and CICS-MD, Kenney is an affiliate at the Department of Geographical Sciences. Her research focuses on participatory processes and tools to advance environmental decision support science by integrating scientific knowledge and societal values into decision-making under uncertainty. Recently, a team of UMD researchers she co-led received a $750,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.
Read the policy adopted by AAAS here: AAAS Revocation Policy.
