Members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) have elected Kevin Finneran, editor in chief of Issues in Science and Technology, as a fellow in the organization’s Section on Societal Impacts of Science Engineering.
AAAS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association.
“My election as a fellow was a complete surprise,” Finneran said. “The process is secret, so I had no idea that I had been nominated, and to be honest, I never expected to be nominated, nevermind elected. My work as editor-in-chief of Issues in Science and Technology is done off-stage, so I didn’t expect that the spotlight would find me.”
AAAS Fellows are defined as members “whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished.” They are nominated by their colleagues and elected annually by the AAAS Council. Fellowship status is conferred as a lifetime honor.
Issues in Science and Technology is a forum for discussion of public policy related to science, engineering, and medicine. The journal is a publication of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine and UT Dallas.
“Although the honor is given to me as an individual, I consider it an award to Issues, UT Dallas and the National Academies, which have supported it for so many years,” Finneran said.
“Whatever attention I’ve attracted is because I’ve had the resources to make Issues a widely respected magazine and because I’ve had the help of Bill Hendrickson, managing editor, and Sonja Gold, director of circulation, and the other UT Dallas employees who have worked on the magazine for the past 15 years,” Finneran said.
“It is also an indication that the scientific community appreciates the importance of scientists, engineers and physicians playing an active role in the nation’s civic life and using their expertise to improve public policy.”
Finneran joins other scholars at UT Dallas who have been conferred with Fellowship status. The AAAS Council elected 486 new Fellows of AAAS. New Fellows will be recognized for their contributions to science and technology at the Fellows Forum in mid-February.
Each new Fellow receives a certificate and a blue and gold rosette to symbolize their distinguished accomplishments.
Media Contacts: Brandon V. Webb, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, Brandon.webb@utdallas.edu
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, newscenter@utdallas.edu
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Kevin Finneran is editor of Issues in Science and Technology, a publication of UT Dallas, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. |
| In the fall, Issues in Science and Technology confronted “Questions That Blur Political Party Lines.” |  |