A timeline created by the AAAS Archives chronicles 100 years of the AAAS Pacific Division. | AAAS Archives
AAAS’ Archives are marking the 100th anniversary of the first meeting of the AAAS Pacific Division with an interactive timeline that chronicles the division’s evolution alongside other AAAS milestones, significant moments in U.S. and world history, as well as noted developments in the history of science.
“AAAS Pacific Division: A Century of Meetings” traces the division from the drafting of its constitution in 1914, its participation at AAAS’ annual meeting in 1915, and its first meeting, held in San Diego the following year.
“Since its first meeting on 9 Aug. 1916, the division has played a crucial part in unifying U.S. western, Canadian, and Pacific Rim scientists, and with whom, serve as the voice to address regional issues,” said Norma Rosado-Blake, AAAS archivist and records manager, who compiled the timeline with guidance from Roger Christianson, the Pacific Division’s executive director, and assistance from Archives intern Richard Hughes.
Supplemented by documents and photographs from the AAAS Archives, the timeline highlights the contributions of the Pacific Division over the last century, including presentations on the causes of the Dust Bowl during the division’s meetings in the 1930s, a resolution against the use of herbicides by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, and partnerships with Russian scientists after the end of the Cold War.
The timeline looks toward the future, too: It culminates with the Pacific Division’s next annual meeting, to be held in Waimea, Hawaii, in June 2017.
The AAAS Archives are open to all researchers interested in the history of AAAS and its role in the development of science. The Archives hold administrative records generated by the association’s membership and program activities as well as for the journal Science.