53-464: TimeTree is a free public database developed by S. Blair Hedges and Sudhir Kumar, now at Temple University , for presenting times of divergence in the tree of life . The basic concept has been to produce and present a community consensus of the timetree of life from published studies, and allow easy access to that information on the web or mobile device. The database permits searching for average node times between two species or higher taxa, viewing
106-860: A Masters and PhD in Zoology from the University of Maryland , supervised by Richard Highton . Before he joined Temple University in 2014, he was a professor at Penn State . He is also a founding member of the NASA Astrobiology Center. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed works including 10 books and monographs. He was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2009 for "revealing connections between biological evolution and Earth history in diverse groups of organisms", and
159-432: A chairperson, the president, and the president-elect along with eight elected directors, the executive officer of the association and up to two additional directors appointed by elected officers. Members serve a four-year term except for directors appointed by elected officers, who serve three-year terms. The current chairman is Gerald Fink , Margaret and Herman Sokol Professor at Whitehead Institute, MIT. Fink will serve in
212-497: A group name, the user can choose which taxonomic level they prefer to view. For example, with a family group name, either a species-level or genus-level timetree can be selected. Then, the timetree is show and can be output as a Newick file or image for publication. Times on the tree can be explored by clicking on nodes, and obtaining tables of data pertaining to the node. The database also allows search of timetree articles by author name. The entire open-access book Timetree of Life
265-563: A particular concern of the AAAS. There are sections for agriculture , anthropology, astronomy , atmospheric science , biological science , chemistry, dentistry , education , engineering, general interest in science and engineering, geology and geography , the history and philosophy of science, technology , computer science , linguistics, mathematics , medical science , neuroscience , pharmaceutical science , physics , psychology , science and human rights, social and political science ,
318-537: A resolution: "Resolved that a Committee of five be appointed to address a memorial to the Secretary of the Navy , requesting his further aid in procuring for Matthew Maury the use of the observations of European and other foreign navigators, for the extension and perfecting of his charts of winds and currents." The resolution was adopted and, in addition to Rogers, the following members of the association were appointed to
371-446: A timeline from the perspective of a taxon, which shows all divergences back to the origin of life, and building a timetree of a chosen taxon or user-submitted group of taxa. TimeTree has been used in public education to conceptualize the evolution of life, such as in high school settings. David Attenborough's Emmy Award-winning film and television program Rise of Animals used Hedges and Kumar's circular timetree of life, generated from
424-501: Is interested in Renaissance art , which led him to conduct several scientific studies of early artwork, including the development of a method for dating old prints and a study on the historical biogeography of beetles based on the holes they bored in old books. American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science ( AAAS ) is an USA -based international nonprofit with
477-520: Is now." In February 2007, the AAAS used satellite images to document human rights abuses in Burma . The next year, AAAS launched the Center for Science Diplomacy to advance both science and the broader relationships among partner countries, by promoting science diplomacy and international scientific cooperation. In 2012, AAAS published op-eds, held events on Capitol Hill and released analyses of
530-497: Is presented on the site. Stephen Blair Hedges Stephen Blair Hedges (known as S. Blair Hedges ) is Laura H. Carnell Professor of Science and director of the Center for Biodiversity at Temple University where he researches the tree of life and leads conservation efforts in Haiti and elsewhere. He co-founded Haiti National Trust . Hedges has a Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree from George Mason University , and
583-600: Is the world's largest general scientific society, with over 120,000 members, and is the publisher of the well-known scientific journal Science . The American Association for the Advancement of Science was created on September 20, 1848, at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . It was a reformation of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists with the broadened mission to be
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#1732772985852636-507: The American Chemical Society (1876), Archaeological Institute of America (1879), Modern Language Association (1883), American Historical Association (1884), Geological Society of America (1888), National Geographic Society (1888), American Physical Society (1899), which drew away some of AAAS members. Also, the reputation of the AAAS was somewhat tarnished, because its 3rd president Alexander Dallas Bache used
689-748: The Barbados threadsnake ( Tetracheilostoma carlae ). Twelve articles in the New York Times have described his research. Work by Hedges and his team in Haiti has defined hot spots of biodiversity leading to the establishment of three national parks in Haiti . He also initiated a captive breeding program to conserve ten endangered species of frog at the Philadelphia Zoo . Together with Haitian CEO Philippe Bayard , he founded Haiti National Trust , an environmental protection NGO. Hedges
742-486: The United States Naval Observatory . He added, "Never before was such a corps of observers known." But, he pointed out to his fellow scientists, his critical need was for more "simultaneous observations". "The work," Maury stated, "is not exclusively for the benefit of any nation or age". The minutes of the AAAS meeting reveal that because of the universality of this "view on the subject, it
795-524: The board of directors . In accordance with the convention followed by the AAAS, presidents are referenced by the year in which they left office. Geraldine Richmond is the president of AAAS for 2015–16; Phillip Sharp is the board chair; and Barbara A. Schaal is the president-elect. Each took office on the last day of the 2015 AAAS Annual Meeting in February 2015. On the last day of the 2016 AAAS Annual Meeting, February 15, 2016, Richmond will become
848-416: The AAAS was formed. As a member of the new scientific body, Matthew Fontaine Maury , USN was one of those who attended the first 1848 meeting. At a meeting held on Friday afternoon, September 22, 1848, Redfield presided, and Matthew Fontaine Maury gave a full scientific report on his Wind and Current Charts . Maury stated that hundreds of ship navigators were now sending abstract logs of their voyages to
901-521: The AAAS, 1848–2005 There are three classifications of high-level administrative officials that execute the basic, daily functions of the AAAS. These are the executive officer , the treasurer and then each of the AAAS's section secretaries. The current CEO of AAAS and executive publisher of Science magazine is Sudip Parikh. The current Editor in Chief of Science magazine is Holden Thorp. The AAAS has 24 "sections" with each section being responsible for
954-404: The AAAS, enacted on January 1, 1973, establishes that the governance of the AAAS is accomplished through four entities: a President, a group of administrative officers, a Council, and a board of directors. Individuals elected to the presidency of the AAAS hold a three-year term in a unique way. The first year is spent as president-elect , the second as president and the third as chairperson of
1007-512: The American Civil War, and also 1942–1943 during World War II . Since 1946, one meeting has occurred annually, now customarily in February. Each year, the AAAS gives out a number of honorary awards, most of which focus on science communication , journalism, and outreach – sometimes in partnership with other organizations. The awards recognize "scientists, journalists, and public servants for significant contributions to science and to
1060-404: The Association's constitution and bylaws, create new scientific sections, and organize and aid local chapters of the AAAS. The Council recently has new additions to it from different sections which include many youngsters as well. John Kerry of Chicago is the youngest American in the council and Akhil Ennamsetty of India is the youngest foreign council member. The board of directors is composed of
1113-780: The Rita Allen Foundation, and the Heinz Endowments . AAAS provides in-kind support. In 1996, AAAS launched the EurekAlert! website, an editorially independent nonprofit news release distribution service covering all areas of science, medicine and technology. EurekAlert! provides news in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Japanese, and, from 2007, in Chinese. Working staff journalists and freelancers who meet eligibility guidelines can access
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#17327729858521166-574: The Society as a lobbying tool for his agency, the US Coast Survey . Several prominent scientists lost interest in the AAAS, and the society's influence declined. The next turning point in the AAS history was the partnership with journal Science , which became the society's official publication in 1900, and provided the AAAS with some revenue through subscription and advertising. The AAAS become
1219-536: The TimeTree database for exploring the time-scale of the tree of life, and co-edited the book Timetree of Life . Hedges and his team produced a spiral tree of life in 2015 to visualize the relationships over time of 50,000 species, and discovered that diversification and speciation are both relatively constant through time and among groups. Hedges also has a field program in the Caribbean where he has studied
1272-436: The TimeTree database, as a framework for the production. The timetree was brought to life using animated computer-generated imagery in scenes every 10 minutes during the 2-hour movie. The original development of TimeTree, by Hedges and Kumar, dates to the late 1990s, with initial support from NASA Astrobiology Institute. Since then, it has been supported by additional grants from NASA, and by NSF and NIH. The current version (v5)
1325-402: The U.S. federal research-and-development budget, to warn that a budget sequestration would have severe consequences for scientific progress. AAAS covers various areas of sciences and engineering. It has 24 sections, each with a committee and its chair. These committees are also entrusted with the annual evaluation and selection of Fellows . The sections are: The most recent Constitution of
1378-688: The United States can access SciLine's services, which include expert-matching, general media briefings, expert quote sheets, and quick fact sheets. As of July 2021, SciLine had fulfilled approximately 2,000 requests from 650 journalists through its expert-matching service. SciLine's financial supporters include the Quadrivium Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative , the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation ,
1431-419: The chair, Schaal will become the president, and a new president-elect will take office. Past presidents of AAAS have included some of the most important scientific figures of their time. Among them: explorer and geologist John Wesley Powell (1888); astronomer and physicist Edward Charles Pickering (1912); anthropologist Margaret Mead (1975); and biologist Stephen Jay Gould (2000). Notable presidents of
1484-540: The committee: Professor Joseph Henry of Washington; Professor Benjamin Peirce of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Professor James H. Coffin of Easton, Pennsylvania, and Professor Stephen Alexander of Princeton , New Jersey. This was scientific cooperation, and Maury went back to Washington with great hopes for the future. In 1850, the first female members were accepted: astronomer Maria Mitchell and entomologist Margaretta Morris . Science educator Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps
1537-492: The effects and tolerance of sexual harassment in the sciences, starting 15 October 2018, a Fellow's status can be revoked "in cases of proven scientific misconduct, serious breaches of professional ethics, or when the Fellow in the view of the AAAS otherwise no longer merits the status of Fellow." Formal meetings of the AAAS are numbered consecutively, starting with the first meeting in 1848. Meetings were not held 1861–1865 during
1590-586: The elected delegates there are always at least two members from the National Academy of Sciences and one from each region of the country. The President of the AAAS serves as the Chairperson of the council. Members serve the council for a term of three years. The council meets annually to discuss matters of importance to the AAAS. They have the power to review all activities of the Association, elect new fellows, adopt resolutions, propose amendments to
1643-527: The evolution and biogeography of amphibians and reptiles with genetic data and maintained a database of information on these species, Caribherp . He discovered many new species in his work and has so far named 135 species of reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies. He also described three of the smallest species of reptiles and amphibians, including the Monte Iberia dwarf frog ( Eleutherodactylus iberia ), Jaragua gecko ( Sphaerodactylus ariasae ), and
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1696-480: The federal government. These policy fellows spend one or two years working for the executive (130 positions), legislative (5 positions) or judicial (1 position) branches. The society's flagship publication is Science , a weekly interdisciplinary scientific journal . Other peer-reviewed journals published by the AAAS in the " Science family of journals" are Science Signaling , Science Translational Medicine , Science Immunology , Science Robotics and
1749-457: The first permanent organization to promote science and engineering nationally and to represent the interests of American researchers from across all scientific fields The society chose William Charles Redfield as their first president because he had proposed the most comprehensive plans for the organization. According to the first constitution which was agreed to at the September 20 meeting,
1802-427: The goal of the society was to promote scientific dialogue in order to allow for greater scientific collaboration. By doing so, the association aimed to use resources to conduct science with increased efficiency and allow for scientific progress at a greater rate. The association also sought to increase the resources available to the scientific community through active advocacy of science. There were only 78 members when
1855-561: The interdisciplinary Science Advances . They also publish the non-peer-reviewed Science & Diplomacy . The society previously published the review journal Science Books & Films (SB&F). AAAS also publishes on behalf of other organizations through the Science Partner Journals (SPJ) program, with a focus on online-only open access journals. SciLine is a philanthropically funded and editorially independent service for journalists and scientists. Its launch
1908-494: The latest studies before publication and obtain embargoed information in compliance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation Fair Disclosure policy. By early 2018, more than 14,000 reporters from more than 90 countries have registered for free access to embargoed materials. More than 5,000 active public information officers from 2,300 universities, academic journals, government agencies, and medical centers are credentialed to provide new releases to reporters and
1961-429: The name of a taxon, and all divergences back to the origin of life are show with their taxon names, in a vertical ladder-like figure. Timepanels of Earth's environment also are shown next to the geological timescale, as in all three search options. The third search option, timetree search, involves building a timetree by either specifying a taxon (group) name or uploading a list of species or other taxa. After specifying
2014-428: The national association. The board may also speak publicly on behalf of the association. The board must also regularly correspond with the council to discuss their actions. The AAAS council elects every year, its members who are distinguished scientifically, to the grade of fellow ( FAAAS ). Election to AAAS is an honor bestowed by their peers and elected fellows are presented with a certificate and rosette pin. To limit
2067-409: The post until the end of the 2016 AAAS Annual Meeting, 15 February 2016. (The chairperson is always the immediate past-president of AAAS.) The board of directors has a variety of powers and responsibilities. It is charged with the administration of all association funds, publication of a budget, appointment of administrators, proposition of amendments, and determining the time and place of meetings of
2120-475: The public's understanding of science". The awards are presented each year at the association's annual meeting. In addition to the aforementioned Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science program, AAAS offers a similarly-sounding but completely unrelated AAAS Policy Fellowship Programs , which provide Ph.D. scientists and M.S. engineers with opportunities to serve in
2173-577: The resurrected AAAS at a meeting in New York City . Following the revival of the AAAS, the group had considerable growth. The AAAS permitted all people, regardless of scientific credentials, to join. The AAAS did, however, institute a policy of granting the title of " Fellow of the AAAS " to well-respected scientists within the organization. At the same time, the recovered AAAS faced competition from several newly established learned societies , such as National Academy of Sciences (founded in 1863),
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2226-426: The scientific curriculum of schools. In December 2006, the AAAS adopted an official statement on climate change , in which they stated, "The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society....The pace of change and the evidence of harm have increased markedly over the last five years. The time to control greenhouse gas emissions
2279-746: The social impact of science and engineering, and statistics . AAAS affiliates include 262 societies and academies of science , serving more than 10 million members, from the Acoustical Society of America to the Wildlife Society , as well as non-mainstream groups like the Parapsychological Association . The council is composed of the members of the Board of Directors, the retiring section chairmen, elected delegates and affiliated foreign council members. Among
2332-421: The society was the establishment of its Congressional Fellowship program in 1973, which was kick-started by a US$ 10,000 donation from William T. Golden . Alan I. Leshner , AAAS CEO from 2001 until 2015, published many op-ed articles discussing how many people integrate science and religion in their lives. He has opposed the insertion of non-scientific content, such as creationism or intelligent design , into
2385-520: The sole owner of Science in 1946. The post- World War II big science , driven by major scientific and technical breakthroughs (such as space flight , nuclear power and the discovery of DNA ) brought in an increased public interest in science in the USA, and thus growing sales of the journal, which were further multiplied by shrewd businesses decisions by its editors Dael Wolfle (1954-1970) and William D. Carey (1974-1985). Another important event for
2438-426: The stated mission of promoting cooperation among scientists , defending scientific freedom , encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the betterment of all humanity. AAAS was the first permanent organization established to promote science and engineering nationally and to represent the interests of American researchers from across all scientific fields. It
2491-414: The timescale for comparison, including Earth impacts, solar luminosity, carbon dioxide levels, and oxygen levels. Separately, a table lists the time estimates, downloadable as a spreadsheet, from each study along with references and links to the abstracts of the original articles. Users can download the original study data as Newick -formatted timetrees for further research. In the timeline search, users type
2544-441: The tree of life using genomic data. This research has led to a number of discoveries including an early origin for the orders of placental mammals and modern birds, estimates of when prokaryotes and eukaryotes first colonized land and its relevance for the planet, and the phylogenetic relationships of reptiles and insectivorous mammals. He has coined the word timetree for a phylogenetic tree scaled to time, co-founded
2597-617: Was announced in an October 27, 2017 article in Science by founding director Rick Weiss, former communications chief at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and science reporter at the Washington Post . Its stated mission is to increase the amount and quality of research-backed evidence in news stories by connecting U.S. journalists to scientists and to validated scientific information. Reporters in
2650-485: Was awarded the 2011 Penn State Faculty Scholar Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Life and Health Sciences. A Cuban butterfly ( Leptodes hedgesi Schwartz & Johnson 1992), Cuban frog ( Eleutherodactylus blairhedgesi Estrada, Diaz, & Rodriguez 1997), and Cuban millipede ( Amphelictogon blairi Perez-Asso 1998) have been named in his honor. Hedges has studied the relationships and timing of major groups in
2703-540: Was elected in 1859. By 1860, membership increased to over 2,000. Although the AAAS became dormant during the American Civil War (their August 1861 meeting in Nashville, Tennessee , was postponed indefinitely after the outbreak of the first major engagement of the war at Bull Run ), the association recovered after the end of the hostilities. In 1866, Frederick Barnard presided over the first meeting of
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#17327729858522756-490: Was released in 2022 and contains data from 4,075 studies and 137,306 species. TimeTree users can search for the names of two species, such as cat and dog, to obtain the mean and median time estimates for their divergence, in millions of years. The results also show all individual time estimates, from each study, next to a geologic timescale, indicating geologic periods. Different aspects of the Earth's environment are shown next to
2809-566: Was suggested whether the states of Christendom might not be induced to cooperate with their Navies in the undertaking; at least so far as to cause abstracts of their log-books and sea journals to be furnished to Matthew F. Maury, USN, at the Naval Observatory at Washington ." William Barton Rogers , professor at the University of Virginia and later founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , offered
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