AAAS Award for
Scientific Freedom and Responsibility

Nominations open through April 15 - June 30, 2025

Start your nomination here.

The AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility is presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science to honor organizations or individuals (including but not limited to scientists, engineers, or health professionals) who have advanced scientific freedom and responsibility under challenging circumstances. Their exemplary actions advance trustworthy science – science that is conducted and communicated responsibly, upholding the values of scientific freedom and human rights, including the right of everyone to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress.

Scientific freedom and responsibility are defined by the AAAS Statement on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility as:

Scientific freedom and scientific responsibility are essential to the advancement of human knowledge for the benefit of all. Scientific freedom is the freedom to engage in scientific inquiry, pursue and apply knowledge, and communicate openly. This freedom is inextricably linked to and must be exercised in accordance with scientific responsibility. Scientific responsibility is the duty to conduct and apply science with integrity, in the interest of humanity, in a spirit of stewardship for the environment, and with respect for human rights.

The types of actions recognized by this award include:

• acting to protect the public's health, safety or welfare;
• focusing public attention on important potential impacts of science and technology on society;
• providing an exemplary model for responsible scientist-community collaborations that advance justice and the right of everyone to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress;
• defending the human rights and professional freedom of scientists and engineers under threat;
• using scientific tools and expertise to promote justice and accountability for grave violations of human rights.

Past winners have included:

• Dr. Peter Hotez, for his work with scientists and communities to develop and distribute safe, effective, and affordable vaccines against neglected diseases, and advocacy for vaccine science;
• Dr. Ronald W. Jones, who helped blow the whistle on an unethical experiment and spent decades defending patients’ rights and scientific integrity;
• Ricardo Galvão, who lost his job because of his efforts to protect the welfare of the people of Brazil and the Amazon rainforest;
• Erin Kimmerle, a forensic anthropologist whose team found the unmarked graves of dozens of children buried at a notorious Florida reform school.

While many of the past winners of this recognition are individuals, we recognize that the actions this award seeks to honor often come about because of the actions of many people: members of affected communities; students and early career researchers; human rights and environmental justice activists; and more. For this reason, we encourage a wide variety of organizations and individuals to seek nomination (or nominate themselves) for this award.

The AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility was established in 1980 by the AAAS Board of Directors. Each year, a multidisciplinary selection committee reviews and deliberates on all submitted nomination materials and additional documentation, as appropriate. The committee’s recommendation, together with relevant materials, is presented to the Board of Directors for final consideration and approval.

This award consists of a prize of $5,000, a commemorative plaque, complimentary registration, and reimbursement for travel and hotel expenses to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting.

Eligibility

Nominations may be made by anyone. Self-nominations are accepted for this award.

Nominations may be received for U.S. and non-U.S. individuals and for organizations, for a specific action, for a series of related actions, or for a career-long record of action.
 

Nomination Procedures

Nominations are made by completing a nomination form through this website's submission portal. The form requests the following information:

• Name and contact information of the nominated individual or organization;
• Name and contact information of the nominator;
• A brief citation (25 - 30 words) describing the accomplishment(s) for which the individual or organization is nominated;
• A longer nomination rationale (not to exceed three pages) providing additional details of the accomplishment(s) of the nominee(s) and impact;
• Additional documentation, including links to press or other articles relevant to the nomination (not to exceed three pages); 
• A resume or CV, or in the case of a group of nominees, a single document compiling all nominee's CVs (not to exceed five pages per nominee);
• At least one letter of support (with an optional maximum of two) written by someone other than the nominator. For self-nominations, at least two letters of support are required, with an optional maximum of three. The writers should be familiar with the actions of the nominee which have been proposed for recognition; and
• Given that the review of nominations may require discussions about controversial matters, the consent of the individual or organization to be considered for the award should be obtained by the nominator and recorded in the nomination packet.

Nominees will be reviewed on the following criteria:

1. The candidate has taken an action or actions that demonstrate and uphold the principles of scientific freedom and/or responsibility.
2. The action(s) was taken with regard to an issue of importance, whether to society or to the scientific community.
3. To the extent relevant to the nomination, the intellectual contributions of the candidate have been of value to their field and/or society.
4. The action(s) taken demonstrated courage on the part of the candidate.

Nomination materials must be received in English; all materials become the property of AAAS. The award is open to all regardless of nationality or citizenship. Nominees must be living at the time of their nomination.

Ethics and Diversity

The American Association for the Advancement of Science is deeply committed to fostering the open and inclusive scientific enterprise that is essential for scientific excellence.

AAAS encourages nominations from a broad range of backgrounds, life experiences, and geographies.

All award winners are expected to meet the commonly held standards of professional ethics* and scientific integrity.

*Breaches of professional ethics might include sexual misconduct, racial discrimination, or other ethical violations. Sexual harassment or retaliation for declining, objecting to, or reporting harassment or other sexual conduct may constitute a serious breach of professional ethics.

Start your nomination here.