Science Policy Resources

On important issues such as stem cell research, evolution, and climate change, policymakers and the public need trustworthy information from science to shape debate and policy decisions. Scientists also bear a responsibility to engage the public in open and honest dialogue not only about the benefits of research and discovery but also about the costs and complex social questions that may arise.

AAAS offers a range of resources for a diverse community of scientists, policymakers, educators, and the public. Science is among the world's most respected journals. The U.S. Congress regularly turns to AAAS for informational briefings; AAAS reports on U.S. research funding are described as the gold-standard of analysis in that field. Guidance is readily available to scientists and engineers, both online and through workshops, to help them communicate effectively with the public.

Encouraging constructive dialogue is central to the mission of AAAS, a private, non-profit, non-partisan association with membership open to everyone.

Some recent projects include:

Federally Funded U.S. Research Grants Remain Mired in “Red Tape,” AAAS Contends
3 December 2012

“Sequestration” Budget Cuts Would Cripple U.S. Scientific Progress, Experts Warn
21 November 2012

“Climate Scientists Cautiously Hopeful After a Day of Congressional Visits”
2 March 2011

Briefings on topics ranging from energy and human cloning to patent law from the AAAS Office of Government Relations

Global Climate Change Resources

On the AAAS Climate Resources page, we've assembled reliable resources that could be helpful to a range of users, from government officials to teachers and students and members of the public.

At every opportunity, AAAS seeks to provide and support scientific and engineering leadership and innovation efforts on global climate change. These issues have been addressed in books compiled by the editors of the journal Science; in special presentations at the AAAS Annual Meeting; in symposia organized with partners in government, business, and higher education; and in statements by the AAAS Board of Directors and published commentaries by AAAS officials.

Some of the latest news:

Science: Major Regions of Polar Ice Have Been Shrinking Since 1992
29 November 2012

Leshner, Chameides: Fear and Ideology Should Not Trump Climate Science in North Carolina
1 August 2012

Science: Once-Rare Butterfly Is Benefitting From Climate Change
24 May 2012

“Science: Sea Level Rise Could Be Bad, But Not as Bad as Some Models Suggest”
4 May 2012

“AAAS Reaffirms Strong Opposition to Tennessee’s Controversial 'Monkey Bills'”
21 March 2012

Stem Cell Resources

As our Stem Cell Resources page makes clear, embryonic stem cell research holds unmatched promise for addressing an array of devastating and life-threatening conditions, from diabetes and Parkinson’s disease to spinal cord injuries and heart disease. Research underwritten by federal grants is already driving early medical progress and has helped build the foundation for ambitious private sector research in the United States and worldwide.

But embryonic stem cell research has been a social and political flash-point. As the issue has played out in policy-making and news coverage, AAAS has been a leader in asserting the life-saving potential of future therapies that could be derived from today’s federally funded research. On our Stem Cell Resources page, we present a selection of AAAS educational material, news, and commentary to support understanding of the science and its potential.

Among the most important statements and analysis from AAAS and Science:

AAAS Welcomes Court Ruling to Allow Continued Federal Funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research
28 July 2011

The AAAS Board of Directors in a 2007 statement affirmed the promise of human embryonic stem cell research for alleviating the suffering of many Americans;

The AAAS Communicating Science program maintains a list of questions and answers about stem cell research;

Evolution Resources

Our Evolution Resources page presents materials useful for teachers and students, religious congregations, journalists, and others. There are links to writings on the dialogue between religion and science, video presentations on the powerful evidence for evolution, statements by the AAAS Board of Directors, and commentaries by AAAS officials. And there's a range of news stories that have been published in Science, on www.AAAS.org, and in newspapers and magazines.

AAAS has been active in recent years in supporting and protecting the integrity of science in public school science classrooms. The message has been clear: In a time of unprecedented challenge and opportunity, top-quality science instruction is essential to America's future well-being. Teaching religious ideas in science class undermines that objective by confusing students and discouraging their interest in science.

Some of the latest news:

“AAAS Opposes Oklahoma’s Controversial Science Education Bill”
26 March 2012

"AAAS Reaffirms Strong Opposition to Tennessee’s Controversial “Monkey Bills”"
21 March 2012

"Texas case threatens education and competitiveness nationally", Peter Agre and Alan I. Leshner, The San Antonio Express News
23 March 2009

R&D Budget and Policy Resources

It's difficult to understand U.S. policies and priorities in science, science education, engineering, and related fields without an understanding of the federal budget for research and development. Some influential government officials have described the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program as the gold standard for this critical budget analysis.

The program offers an authoritative, non-partisan look at how the government invests in innovation across the full range of fields, from agriculture, health, and defense to physics, energy, and space exploration. The program's analyses are frequently updated, especially during budget season in Washington, D.C. The latest report provides analysis of the R&D investment in the most recent Presidential Budget Request.