A Year of Reckoning and Transition

If 2020 was a year of crisis, then 2021 was a year of reckoning and transition, with science once again taking center stage as the world responded to societal and public health challenges. We saw numerous examples of how our community plays a vital role in driving efforts to restore health, trust and equity to a world in need.
 
At times, our progress was uneven. The promise of COVID-19 vaccines was tempered by disparities in distribution, vaccine hesitancy, and mis- and disinformation. Our Science family of journals published pivotal research and reported on key developments around global vaccine efforts, all while prompting important – yet at times contentious – conversations around the pandemic. Add to that our track record of sharing swift, high-impact discoveries through the journals, which have helped inform and drive health outcomes for millions.

We provided actionable evidence to decision-makers at all levels of government to inform responses to the pandemic, environmental sustainability challenges and systemic challenges in the sciences, and we provided access to experts to policymakers and the press. On a global scale, we elevated the role of science diplomacy, especially in the face of growing polarization and isolation. AAAS has a rich history of driving dialogue among scientists, press, government decision-makers and the public to build trust where trust is scarce.

We also encouraged solutions at the local level to tackle environmental challenges that threaten the planet’s welfare. Our Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion (DoSER) program celebrated its 25-year anniversary and reaffirmed its commitment to creating connections between scientific and religious communities.

And with renewed energy, we took concrete steps to make the scientific enterprise – including our own association – more diverse, inclusive and equitable. Our work is far from finished.

We launched new online homes for the Science family of journals and our media resource EurekAlert! that made them more engaging and user friendly (with science.org receiving recognition as a Webby Award finalist in 2022). Our 2021 Annual Meeting demonstrated the continued power of collaboration across our membership and the broader scientific community even in the middle of a pandemic.

These are just some of the highlights from 2021, but they do not begin to capture the full range of accomplishments. This report delves into some of our efforts that made an impact.

The busy year is no surprise to those who know about our long-standing mission to advance science, engineering and innovation for the benefit of all people.

We are grateful to our members, donors and partners who join us in these and many other efforts. Thank you for helping us demonstrate the power of science to serve society. We are in this together.

AAAS Board of Directors and Leadership