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AAAS Council Approves New Fellow Revocation Policy

On September 15, the American Association for the Advancement of Science Council voted on and approved a policy allowing for the revocation of the status of elected AAAS Fellows.

The new policy, which will go into effect on October 15, 2018, is meant to provide an avenue for AAAS to consider and revoke Fellow status in situations involving proven scientific misconduct, serious breaches of professional ethics such as sexual misconduct or racial discrimination, or when an individual otherwise no longer merits the status of Fellow within the view of AAAS.

"This policy is in keeping with the century-long tradition of AAAS to set and defend standards for fairness, equity, dignity, and opportunity in science and engineering," said AAAS Chief Executive Officer Rush D. Holt.

AAAS President Margaret A. Hamburg released the following statement:

"Today the AAAS Council voted on and approved a Fellow revocation policy. This new policy, which will go into effect on October 15, 2018, provides a mechanism and procedure for AAAS to consider and act to revoke the status of an elected AAAS Fellow ‘in cases of proven scientific misconduct, serious breaches of professional ethics, or when the Fellow in the view of AAAS no longer merits the status of Fellow.’ This includes a revocation procedure in cases of sexual and gender harassment.

Harassment has no place in science. We must do more as a scientific community to create a respectful and supportive environment for our colleagues and students. We need effective and responsive policies in academic departments and institutions, scientific societies, and government agencies that define expectations of behavior and provide clear reporting processes, as well as consequences for violations."

Read the full AAAS Fellow Revocation Policy here.

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