About the Award

The AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility is presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science to honor scientists, engineers, and their organizations whose exemplary actions have demonstrated scientific freedom and/or responsibility in challenging circumstances.

The types of actions worthy of 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 by their responsible participation in public policy debates; or providing an exemplary model in carrying out the social responsibilities of scientists, engineers or in defending the professional freedom of scientists and engineers.

Some awardees have risked their freedom and even physical safety by their actions, while others have been honored for their advocacy and their leadership. Some have been recognized for a life-time of service and devotion to the values honored by the scientific community, and others for a particular act or instance in which they fostered scientific freedom and responsibility. Although some award winners are distinguished scientists or scholars, this is not a requirement for award selection.

This award was established in 1980 and consists of a prize of $5,000, a commemorative plaque, complimentary registration to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting.

Ethics and Diversity

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is committed to equal opportunity for all persons, without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected categories. AAAS seeks as diverse a pool of award nominations as possible from a wide range of disciplines, institutional types, and geographical locations.

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.