Appendix III: About AAAS and ICS
American Association for the Advancement of
Science
Founded in
1848, AAAS is the world’s largest federation of scientific and engineering
societies with nearly 300 affiliates.
In addition, AAAS counts more than 140,000 scientists, engineers,
science educators, policy makers and interested citizens among its individual
members, making it the largest general science organization in the world. The objectives of AAAS are to further the
work of scientists, to facilitate cooperation among them, to foster scientific
freedom and responsibility, to improve the effectiveness of science in the
promotion of human welfare, to advance education in science, and to increase
public understanding and appreciation of the methods of science in human
progress.
The AAAS
Directorate for Science and Policy Programs is home to the two Programs
organizing this project on stem cell research and applications. The Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and
Law Program is charged by AAAS with lead responsibility for the Association’s
activities related to ethics and law.
It has organized a series of studies and public events related to
advances in biomedicine, resulting in several publications: The
Genome, Ethics and the Law Issues in Genetic Testing (1992); Ethical and Legal Issues in Pedigree Research
(1993); The Genetic Frontier: Ethics, Law,
and Policy (1994); and Exploring
Public Policy Issues in Genetics (1997). In May-June 1996, the Program sponsored a series of four
briefings on the social policy implications of the Human Genome Project for
Members of Congress and their staffs.
The other
program organizing this project is the AAAS Program of Dialogue on Science,
Ethics, and Religion. Established in
1995, it has three objectives: (1) to promote knowledge about developments in
science and technology within the religious community; (2) to provide
opportunities for dialogue between members of the scientific, secular ethics,
and religious communities; and (3) to promote collaboration between members of
the scientific and religious communities on projects that explore the ethical
and religious implications of scientific developments. The Program convened an eighteen-month
dialogue on human gene patenting, involving the scientific, biotechnology,
religious, and legal communities, resulting in the publication of Perspectives on Gene Patenting: Science, Religion,
and Industry in Dialogue.
The two
Programs co-sponsored a forum on human cloning in June 1997 and convened a
second forum in September 1997 on human germline interventions.
Institute for Civil Society
Inspired by Eastern European
movements that overthrew communism by the sheer force of belief in freedom, the
Institute for Civil society (ICS) holds that joint action by people in
communities is as important as the actions of government and business in
upholding democracy.
Established in 1995, and based
in Newton, Massachusetts, ICS focused initially on forging relationships with
grassroots groups to reduce handgun violence and improve the quality of life in
Boston. In 1996, it received an
endowment of $35 million that enabled it to expand its reach, and launched a
national New Century/New Solutions project to renew civil society and highlight
community perspectives in other parts of the country. ICS currently works in four program areas. Democratic
Capitalism seeks to bridge the gap between those who have access to
the capital that can make things happen, and those who do not. Health and
Science Policy contributes to new ways of thinking about complicated
issues, such as the relationship between biotechnology and cures for
disease. Culture and Creativity identifies ways in which
institutions, such as schools, can help to foster innovative thinking. Violence
works to change the conditions that make violence possible.
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| Contributed by: AAAS DoSER and the Institute for
Civil Society
|
