Administrative ResolutionsResolutions Related to Research
Resolutions Related to Astronomy as a Profession
Resolutions Related to EducationResolutions Related to Society
Resolutions Whose Period of Relevance has Passed
Resolution TextAAS Statement On Community-based Priority Setting in the Astronomical SciencesAdopted 24 January 2008 The American Astronomical Society and each of its five divisions strongly endorse community-based priority setting as a fundamental component in the effective federal funding of research. Broad community input is required in making difficult decisions that will be respected by policy makers and stake-holders. The decadal surveys are the premier examples of how to set priorities with community input. Other National Academy studies, standing advisory committees, senior reviews, and town hall meetings are important components. Mid-decade adjustments should also be open to appropriate community input. Pleadings outside this process for specific Congressional language to benefit projects or alter priorities are counterproductive and harm science as a whole. The American Astronomical Society opposes all attempts to circumvent the established and successful community-based priority-setting processes currently in place. AAS Statement in Support of NASA Emergency AppropriationsAdopted 13 July 2006 The American Astronomical Society (AAS) congratulates NASA on its recent successful return to flight of the Space Shuttle; however, return to flight has been a substantial unexpected expense. NASA faces significant outstanding fiscal challenges that include maintaining the Shuttle, completing the International Space Station, and fulfilling the Vision for Space Exploration. The AAS believes that meeting these challenges should not diminish the high quality science that NASA undertakes on behalf of the American taxpayer. The AAS commends Senators Mikulski and Hutchison for their leadership in proposing an emergency supplement to NASA's FY07 appropriations that will help to compensate for the unexpected expenses associated with the Shuttle Columbia accident and damage to NASA facilities caused by Hurricane Katrina. This emergency funding request will alleviate severe cuts to NASA's space science program that are being taken to fully fund the Space Shuttle and the ISS -- costs for which there was never an adequate budget. The AAS pledges to work with Senators Mikulski and Hutchison along with their colleagues in the Congress to ensure the long-term health of NASA. AAS Statement on Atacama Large Millimeter ArrayAdopted 9 May 2006 The American Astronomical Society (AAS) applauds the National Science Foundation for moving forward with a rebaselined, fifty-antenna Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). This decision will enable ALMA to do the transformational science that made it a high priority project in the past two National Academy Decadal Surveys of Astronomy and Astrophysics. ALMA will lay the groundwork for future global science projects, both in astronomy and in other disciplines. As a world project involving multiple regions - Asia, Europe and the Americas - and operating under a fully international governance structure, ALMA has successfully overcome many hurdles and is now poised for completion in 2012. We are very pleased that the NSF continues its strong support of ALMA. ALMA will enable important discoveries about the origin of galaxies, stars and planetary systems. The AAS stands ready to work with Congress, the Administration and the NSF to fully implement the prioritized projects described in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey. AAS Statement on the Beyond Einstein Program Assessment CommitteeAdopted 23 September 2007 The AAS commends NASA and DOE for working together and for using a broad range of community experts to obtain advice on the difficult task of choosing the first mission in the Beyond Einstein program. The attention of the National Academy's Beyond Einstein Program Assessment Committee (BEPAC) to cost, schedule and readiness in the evaluation of the missions and the inclusion of project management experts on the committee are innovations that will prove valuable for the next Astronomy & Astrophysics Decadal Survey. AAS Statement on NASA Advisory CommitteesAdopted 5 January 2007 One of the historic strengths of NASA science programs has been their guidance the close involvement of the space research community. The scientific priorities established by NRC Decadal Studies have been especially important. Committees comprised of leaders of the space science community and governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) have provided programmatic advice to the NASA science leaders at the Associate Administrator and Divisional levels as they develop internal roadmaps to implement the programs recommended by the NRC Studies. Key to the effectiveness of this FACA-based advisory structure has been the openness of the process. Under FACA rules, meetings are generally open to the public, including members of the press, congressional staff, and members of the scientific community. Along with open meetings, FACA rules impose strict conflict of interest guidelines that enhance the objective nature of advice from the committees. NASA's internal FACA advisory structure has played a vital role in bringing advice from the science community to NASA management in an open, balanced and non-conflicted manner. The AAS strongly urges the Agency to reinstate this structure at the Directorate level and below as an integral component of NASA's interaction with the scientific community. This is especially important now as NASA copes with new mission and budgetary challenges. AAS Statement on Proposed FY2007 NASA BudgetAdopted 3 May 2006 Members of the American Astronomical Society advise NASA on scientific priorities, participate in NASA missions, and assemble the evidence from NASA’s outstanding scientific discoveries to build a coherent picture for the origin and evolution of the Earth, the solar system, our Galaxy, and for the Universe as a whole. From the perspective of the AAS, the current NASA budget for science is disappointing. Although it maintains JWST and provides for a possible refurbishment mission to HST, the sudden and wide-ranging retrenchments in this budget proposal would halt, defer, or postpone programs to explore the solar system, to observe other solar systems as they form, to detect planets around other stars, to measure gravitational waves from astronomical events, to probe the edges of black holes, and to seek the nature of the dark energy. Large, medium, and small programs have been abruptly cut or cancelled. This change has taken place without the broad consultation within the community that we expect when it is necessary to shape NASA’s program in times of finite resources. This seems unwise, wasteful of effort, and damaging to the nation’s ability to develop its capabilities in science. There is broad and growing understanding in the Congress, as evidenced by the Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (PACE) legislation, that America’s future depends on living by our wits in a competitive world. NASA science has been a bright light, helping to inspire an interest in science and engineering for generations of students. More directly, it has been a great success in its own terms—generating a profound new understanding of the Universe we live in. It is a mistake to suddenly diminish this successful program while it is producing so many good results for NASA and holds such promise for future discovery. For AAS members, the proposed cuts in NASA’s support for science more than offset the increases that have been aimed at improving America’s competitiveness through support for the same type of work by the NSF, DOE, and NIST. A coherent effort to improve science and engineering in the US would treat NASA’s science program as part of the solution. The AAS and its members are prepared to work with Congress and with NASA to help find the best path to the future. The AAS strongly supports the PACE-acts, which call for significant increases for physical science research, including a 10% increase for NASA basic research in each of the next five years as well as new initiatives in science education. We are prepared to offer our best advice and to work diligently to make the most of NASA’s investment in science. AAS Statement on the American Competitiveness Initiative and the Senate PACE ActsAdopted 3 March 2006 The American Astronomical Society (AAS) strongly supports the initiatives proposed by both the President and the U.S. Senate to increase U.S. economic competitiveness as recommended by the National Academies report Rising Above the Gathering Storm. The scientific excitement of exploring the Universe, near and far, is reflected in the abiding public interest in astronomy. Astronomy continues to be an inspiration for students and teachers, to provide an essential training ground for scientists and engineers, and to produce new wide-ranging technologies to stimulate the U.S. economy. The President's American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) and the Senate's Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) Acts (with more than 50 co-sponsors) both propose a doubling of federal funding for the physical sciences. The AAS is particularly encouraged by the proposed increases for the National Science Foundation and the DOE Office of Science in FY 2007. These increases will invest in the skills and creativity that these agencies support and will ensure continued competitiveness of our science and engineering workforce in the globalized economy. AAS Statement on the National Science Foundation's Division of Astronomical Sciences 2005 Senior ReviewAdopted 5 January 2007 The American astronomical Society is encouraged that the National Science Foundation is initiating a Senior Review of its operating facilities: a step recommended by the Decadal report "Astronomy and Astrophysics for the New Millennium." A thorough science-based review of the facility and research portfolio sponsored by the NSF Astronomical Sciences Division is essential to provide the most effective and productive scientific program for the future. The NSF should establish a process for obtaining input from the broad US astronomical community. Each year, more than a quarter of US, astronomers use the NSF national facilities for their research. Decisions made by the Senior Review could terminate programs and close facilities: outcomes with significant effects on the ability of US astronomers to accomplish the scientific objectives set out for those facilities.. Therefore, we strongly recommend that the NSF lay out the Senior Review issues directly to the astronomical community, that the Senior Review be carried out in a manner that allows adequate time for the broadest possible input, and that decisions be based on a well-defined and publicly accessible process. The AAS also notes that the growing scale of future large facilities implies a comparable need for growth in the scale of budgets to operate those facilities and to provide grant support so that astronomers can fully exploit the data they produce. If present trends continue, the entire facilities budget of the Division of Astronomical Sciences will only be able to support a few major facilities. However, such large facilities do not stand alone. Observations with supporting instruments are often required to identify the most promising targets or to interpret the results from state of the art instruments. The Senior Review should identify key scientific problems that will be addressed in the next two decades and identify the suite of capabilities that will be needed to explore these problems fully. The AAS believes that NSF should strive to achieve public access on the basis of merit to the full complement of facilities needed for these scientific programs. We recommend that the NSF Senior Review adopt this principle as the cornerstone of their deliberations. AAS Statement on the Teaching of EvolutionAdopted 20 September 2005 The American Astronomical Society supports teaching evolution in our nation’s K-12 science classes. Evolution is a valid scientific theory for the origin of species that has been repeatedly tested and verified through observation, formulation of testable statements to explain those observations, and controlled experiments or additional observations to find out whether these ideas are right or wrong. A scientific theory is not speculation or a guess -- scientific theories are unifying concepts that explain the physical universe. Astronomical observations show that the Universe is many billions of years old (see the AAS publication, An Ancient Universe), that nuclear reactions in stars have produced the chemical elements over time, and recent observations show that gravity has led to the formation of many planets in our Galaxy. The early history of the solar system is being explored by astronomical observation and by direct visits to solar system objects. Fossils, radiological measurements, and changes in DNA trace the growth of the tree of life on Earth. The theory of evolution, like the theories of gravity, plate tectonics, and Big Bang cosmology, explains, unifies, and predicts natural phenomena. Scientific theories provide a proven framework for improving our understanding of the world. In recent years, advocates of “Intelligent Design,” have proposed teaching “Intelligent Design” as a valid alternative theory for the history of life. Although scientists have vigorous discussions on interpretations for some aspects of evolution, there is widespread agreement on the power of natural selection to shape the emergence of new species. Even if there were no such agreement, “Intelligent Design” fails to meet the basic definition of a scientific idea: its proponents do not present testable hypotheses and do not provide evidence for their views that can be verified or duplicated by subsequent researchers. Since “Intelligent Design” is not science, it does not belong in the science curriculum of the nation’s primary and secondary schools. The AAS supports the positions taken by the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Science Teachers’ Association, the American Geophysical Union, the American Chemical Society, and the American Association of Physics Teachers on the teaching of evolution. The AAS also supports the National Science Education Standards: they emphasize the importance of scientific methods as well as articulating well-established scientific theories. A PDF version of this statement with additional resources is available for printing and distribution. AAS Statement on the Vision for Space ExplorationAdopted 11 July 2005 The American Astronomical Society urges that a vigorous, focused program of scientific research form the core of the implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration. The President's initiative for the civilian space program places emphasis on exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond by humans and robots. Science is exploration, whether it involves directly sampling the surface of Mars, or gathering in the faint and ancient light of distant galaxies. Exploration without science is tourism. The adventure of exploration will capture the hearts of Americans: but the scientific discoveries that come from that exploration will capture their minds. Scientific discoveries from NASA's new space program will provide its most meaningful legacy. We are learning where we are, where we came from, and we have discovered surprising new features of the way the world works. Based on NASA's leadership in space science, we see the Earth as one planet among many we can now study, we see the origin of chemical and biological matter as woven into the history of cosmic change, and we have learned the surprising fact that, on the largest scales, our Universe is not organized by the material we can see, but is made mostly of dark matter and governed by the properties of a mysterious dark energy we have only recently discovered. We have much to explore. The Universe holds a great deal of "beyond." Science is essential to implement the Vision for Space Exploration. New technologies to implement the Vision for Space Exploration will depend on scientific advances, and, in turn, will afford new opportunities for scientific work. These notions are laid out in the June 2004 report of the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Exploration Policy and National Research Council's assessment: Science in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. As we learn how to explore, we will create opportunities for better scientific research, for more stimulating science education, and we will contribute toward our nation's ability to compete in a world based on technology. We are all explorers whenever we encounter something new. By motivating Exploration for scientific purposes, the Vision for Space Exploration will benefit science and society. The great successes of space science in the past decades arise from a strong partnership between NASA and the scientific community. The astronomical community, through its decadal surveys and other consultations has set priorities, and worked with NASA to make these dreams into reality. The astronomical community embraces the opportunity to continue to work with NASA to implement the Vision for Space Exploration on a sound scientific basis with broad input from the scientific community. [Note: Background contextual reasoning for the statement is available at this link along with a PDF version of the statement itself.] AAS Statement on the National Science Foundation's Division of Astronomical Sciences Senior ReviewAdopted 28 June 2005 The American Astronomical Society is encouraged that the National Science Foundation is initiating a Senior Review of its operating facilities: a step recommended by the Decadal report "Astronomy and Astrophysics for the New Millennium." A thorough science-based review of the facility and research portfolio sponsored by the NSF Astronomy Division is essential to provide the most effective and productive scientific program for the future. The NSF should establish a process for obtaining input from the broad US astronomical community. Each year, more than a quarter of U.S. astronomers use the NSF national facilities for their research. Decisions made by the Senior Review could terminate programs and close facilities: outcomes with significant effects on the ability of US astronomers to accomplish the scientific objectives set out for those facilities. Therefore, we strongly recommend that the NSF lay out the Senior Review issues directly to the astronomical community, that the Senior Review be carried out in a manner that allows adequate time for the broadest possible input, and that decisions be based on a well-defined and publicly accessible process. The AAS also notes that the growing scale of future large facilities implies a comparable need for growth in the scale of budgets to operate those facilities and to provide grant support so that astronomers can fully exploit the data they produce. If present trends continue, the entire facilities budget of the Astronomy Division will only be able to support a few major facilities. However, such large facilities do not stand alone. Observations with supporting instruments are often required to identify the most promising targets or to interpret the results from state of the art instruments. The Senior Review should identify key scientific problems that will be addressed in the next two decades and identify the suite of capabilities that will be needed to explore these problems fully. The AAS believes that NSF should strive to achieve public access on the basis of merit to the full complement of facilities needed for these scientific programs. We recommend that the NSF Senior Review adopt this principle as the cornerstone of their deliberations. AAS Statement on Hubble Space Telescope ServicingAdopted 7 March 2005 The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has been the crown jewel in NASA’s science programs for over a decade. Its accomplishments have revolutionized our understanding of the universe in which we live, and it has inspired a new generation of students and the public at large with its discoveries. This remarkable performance can be expected to continue if HST is serviced. NASA’s recently announced decision to forego any option to service the HST is therefore viewed with considerable disappointment by the American Astronomical Society and the astronomical community. While we recognize that HST’s mission must end at some time, the fact that a servicing mission was a part of NASA’s planned activity, and that two key replacement science instruments are already developed to enable important and exciting new science, makes this decision particularly unfortunate and difficult to accept. Much of the success of NASA’s space science program is due to strong community involvement in planning and setting priorities based upon scientific merit and relevance to a coherent science program. Therefore, the AAS strongly concurs with the view advocated by the recently released report of the NRC Committee to Assess Progress Toward the Decadal Vision in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Specifically, that NASA should continue with the missions and programs as prioritized in the NRC report “Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium.” In particular, should a HST servicing mission have adverse budget consequences, the AAS urges NASA to include the space science communities in an assessment of the relative scientific merits of all impacted missions, in line with the decadal survey process. Finally, the AAS notes that HST is a component of a dynamic, exciting, and evolving set of astronomy and space science missions. We applaud NASA’s continuing commitment to maintaining a “world-class astronomy program,” as expressed in Acting Administrator Gregory’s testimony on February 17, 2005 to the House Science Committee. This commitment is an essential element of the Vision for Space Exploration, and the AAS stands ready to work with NASA to assure that strong programs in space science continue as NASA implements the Vision. AAS Statement on Recent NASA Science Mission Directorate Budget ActionsAdopted 27 April 2005 NASA's science programs have provided---and continue to provide---the Nation with a strong return on its investment in space exploration. Essential elements of this return are NASA's data analysis programs associated with specific missions and its research and analysis (R&A) programs that fund more general research that guides and informs future space missions. These R&A programs are critical for training the next generation of scientists and assuring the nation of continued leadership in space exploration. NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) budget for FY 2005 has come under intense pressure with required reductions of several hundred million dollars arising from costs of returning the shuttle fleet to flight, unplanned expenses associated with the Hubble Space Telescope, and a record level of unfunded congressional earmarks. As a result, NASA has announced a series of terminations of new mission opportunities, as well as cutbacks in key R&A programs for the coming year. Reductions in R&A programs have a disproportionate long-term impact for the small amount of money saved. These reductions compromise a major vehicle for recruiting and developing younger researchers, and therefore, the cuts correspond to the loss of scientists and the capabilities they bring to our national space efforts. The President is calling for expanded exploration. Cutting R&A programs and thereby reducing our capacity to explore cannot accomplish that. Budget actions taken at this time can set dangerous precedents for upcoming years, as prospects for NASA's future budget appear no better than for FY2005. To ensure that long-term priorities are preserved and that science return is maximized in a reduced funding environment, NASA should involve members of the science community in a current assessment of missions before finalizing decisions on possible mission terminations. What is at stake is American preeminence in space science and the scientific, educational and economic benefits that flow from that enterprise. American Astronomical Society Statement on the National Research Council Report on "The Assessment of Options for Extending the Life of Hubble Space Telescope"Adopted 10 January 2005 The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has been a remarkable instrument for scientific discovery, of great importance to members of the American Astronomical Society, to international science and to the broader world of curious people who seek to know what the Universe is and how it works. The long-awaited Servicing Mission (SM)-4 to install powerful new instruments and to extend the productive life of HST was suspended while NASA dealt with the consequences of the Columbia accident. Congress directed NASA to request a study by the National Research Council (NRC) of HST servicing options, evaluating both a shuttle mission and a possible robotic mission. The final report of the NRC Committee on the Assessment of Options for Extending the Lifetime of the Hubble Space Telescope was released on December 8, 2004. The NRC report is extensive and wide-ranging. The three major recommendations set forth in the report are:
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) endorses the work of this distinguished committee and its conclusion that the lowest risk HST servicing mission is a manned servicing mission as originally envisioned for SM-4. In calling for a manned servicing mission, the AAS reaffirms its position statement “On the Cancellation of Future Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Missions” in which the Society called for an independent panel to review the options, stressed placing paramount importance on astronaut safety, and asserted that the Hubble Space Telescope has had an impact, not only on science, but on the dreams and imagination of our young people that cannot be overstated. The NRC Committee has admirably balanced those concerns and brought forth cogent recommendations. American Astronomical Society Endorsement of AGU Statement on Climate ChangeAdopted 2 June 2004 The American Geophysical Union (AGU) notes that human impacts on the climate system include increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which is significantly contributing to the warming of the global climate. The climate system is complex, however, making it difficult to predict detailed outcomes of human-induced change: there is as yet no definitive theory for translating greenhouse gas emissions into forecasts of regional weather, hydrology, or response of the biosphere. As the AGU points out, our ability to predict global climate change, and to forecast its regional impacts, depends directly on improved models and observations. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) joins the AGU in calling for peer-reviewed climate research to inform climate-related policy decisions, and, as well, to provide a basis for mitigating the harmful effects of global change and to help communities adapt and become resilient to extreme climatic events. In endorsing the "Human Impacts on Climate" statement, the AAS recognizes the collective expertise of the AGU in scientific subfields central to assessing and understanding global change, and acknowledges the strength of agreement among our AGU colleagues that the global climate is changing and human activities are contributing to that change. American Astronomical Society Statement on the Cancellation of Future Hubble Space Telescope Servicing MissionsAdopted 22 January 2004 The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has inspired a generation of Americans with its scientific achievements. Since its launch in 1990, HST has explored the Universe, ranging from our own solar system to the most distant galaxies. In the eyes of the public as well as in the judgment of professional astronomers, both nationally and internationally, HST represents the finest of the countless contributions the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is making to science. While the American Astronomical Society places paramount importance on astronaut safety, the astronomy community deeply regrets the cancellation of future servicing missions at a time when HST continues to make fundamental discoveries at an undiminished rate. Thus, the AAS supports the congressional call for an independent panel of outside experts to review the decision to limit prematurely the lifespan of the Hubble Space Telescope. Such a decision must consider all possible options for accomplishing the servicing mission and must also be widely understood. We hope that such a review panel can be convened in a timely manner and its work completed quickly. We urge that any process to reconsider the decision to cancel Servicing Mission 4 include as one of the considerations the future scientific contributions afforded by HST. These are outlined in part by the HST-JWST Transition Panel Report. We further note that sustained HST operations are essential to reap the full benefits of NASA's other Great Observatories in space, the Chandra X-ray Telescope, launched in 1999, and the Spitzer Infrared Telescope, launched just a few months ago. Only if HST operates at full capability through 2009 do we have the opportunity to take advantage of the scientific synergy of these three Great Observatories, examining astronomical sources across the electromagnetic spectrum in X-ray, visual, ultraviolet and infrared light. The Hubble Space Telescope is an international treasure that has inspired the people of America and the world for nearly 15 years. Its impact, not only on science, but on the dreams and imagination of our young people, cannot be overstated. American Astronomical Society Endorsement of the National Research Council Report "The Sun to the Earth - and Beyond: A Decadal Research Strategy in Solar and Space Physics"A report of the National Research Council Space Studies Board Adopted 3 January 2004 The American Astronomical Society hereby endorses the newly released National Research Council Report "The Sun to the Earth -- and Beyond: A Decadal Research Strategy in Solar and Space Physics" as a balanced set of priorities for federal expenditure in solar and space physics research studies for the coming decade. This report was completed by the National Research Council after substantial input from the solar and space physics community with the support of the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society. The report represents a community consensus as to the priorities for federal investment in solar physics research for the period 2003-2013. The key overall recommendations include completion of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) which are under development, and the prioritized new initiatives: Solar Probe, the Frequency Agile Solar Radio (FASR), the theory, modeling, and data analysis initiative know as the Virtual Sun, US participation in ESA's Solar Orbiter and a multi-spacecraft heliospheric mission. These recommendations are consistent with, and build upon, those made in the recent Astronomy and Astrophysics decadal survey. The report, and the associated report of the Study's Panel on the Sun and Heliospheric Physics, encourages i) NASA, NSF, and other agencies that fund solar and heliospheric physics to continue interagency planning and coordination activities in order to optimize the science return of ground- and space-based assets, as well as encouraging a similar high level of planning and coordination between the NSF/AST and ATM Divisions, ii) NSF to plan for and provide comprehensive support for scientific users of its facilities, iii) NASA to support instrumentation programs, research programs, and software efforts at national and university ground-based facilities where such programs are essential to the scientific aims of specific NASA missions and/or the strategic goal of training future personnel for NASA's mission, and iv) NSF and NASA to both study ways in which they could more effectively support education and training activities at national and university-based facilities. The AAS encourages its members, other astronomy, astrophysics and related researchers, astronomy and astrophysics enthusiasts, the public and especially members of Congress and the Administration to fully embrace the report and use it when making policy decisions regarding federal investment in solar and space physics research during the coming decade. Endorsement of the Hubble Space Telescope - James Webb Space Telescope Transition Panel ReportAdopted 4 September 2003 The American Astronomical Society strongly endorses the HST-JWST Transition Panel report and its list of prioritized options for the future of the HST. The AAS believes that this report summarizes clearly the strategies that would optimize the total science return from these space telescopes while taking into account the inevitable uncertainty about future Hubble servicing missions. Given that extensive planning and substantial lead time will be required to implement any of the options for future operation of HST, we urge NASA to give prompt and thoughtful consideration to the report. Information about the differential costs of the scientific activities (beyond normal operations costs) associated with each of the three options would help to inform the decision process. The Transition Panel's preferred option was two additional Shuttle servicing missions. The AAS supports the recommendation that the extended HST science program resulting from SM5 occur only if the HST science is successful in a peer-reviewed competition. We believe:
Policy on Resolution Approval ProcessAdopted 24 May 2003
On AAS ResolutionsAdopted 24 May 2003 AAS Resolutions ordinarily should pertain to areas in which the Society has special expertise. In areas where the AAS lacks special expertise, but wishes to take a position, the President or their delegate should negotiate a joint resolution with a scientific society (or societies) having that special expertise, or consider an endorsement of a pre-existing position by another society (or societies). On AAS Policy ActionsAdopted 24 May 2003 From time to time the President or Executive Committee may decide to take some action, either in response to input from the Council, a committee or on their own initiative, that does not require the adoption of a Resolution. Examples include sending a letter to a government official or the media on a policy matter, joining other societies in signing such a letter, issuing Action Alerts to the membership, or thanking policy makers for taking some particular action. Activities such as these will be called Policy Actions and be reported to the Council in accordance with the by-laws. In the case of Action Alerts or Informational Emails, only the approval of the chair of the Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy is required to allow distribution. Multi-Society Endorsement of National Dark Sky WeekAdopted 5 January 2003 The American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) hereby endorse National Dark Sky Week, a grassroots effort to highlight the beauty of the night sky and to draw attention to the ever-increasing levels of light pollution across the United States caused by poorly designed lighting. The AAS and the IDA believe that the opportunity to experience the natural night sky should be available to every citizen of our Nation. This natural resource, which inspires our attempts to understand the cosmos, should be protected through the use of well-designed lighting systems that put light where it is needed and not waste energy through unnecessary illumination of the sky. Properly designed lighting systems provide safety and convenience without polluting one of our greatest natural assets. The American Astronomical Society and the International Dark Sky Association encourage all Americans to use the evenings of April 1st to April 8th 2003, from 10 pm to 12 am (ET & MT) and 9 pm to 11 pm (CT & PT) to attend public star parties, visit their local planetarium or public observatory, or simply go outside to a safe, dark location to enjoy the wonder of the night sky. Learning the constellations, observing the planets, wondering about the stars and the Milky Way are one of the most basic of human experiences and should be enjoyed by all. National Dark Sky Week is also endorsed by the Astronomical League, a non-profit federation of 250 astronomical societies and nearly 20,000 members and Sky and Telescope magazine. More information on National Dark Sky Week is available at this site. Endorsement of the NRC Report "New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy"Adopted 30 September 2002 The American Astronomical Society hereby endorses the National Research Council Report "New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy" as a balanced set of priorities for Federal expenditure in solar system studies for the coming decade. This report was completed by the National Research Council after substantial input from the planetary sciences community with the support of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society. The report represents a community consensus as to the priorities for federal investment in solar system exploration for the period 2003-2013. The key overall recommendations include maintenance of NASA's Discovery program of low-cost missions, a Kuiper-Belt/Pluto medium class mission and the large-cost category Europa Geophysical Explorer. There are also a separate set of prioritized recommendations for the Mars Exploration Program. The survey endorses several ground-based facilities recommended by the recent Astronomy and Astrophysics decadal survey, including the Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope and the Large-Aperture Synoptic Survey Telescope with operating modes supportive of solar system studies. It also points out the important role planetary astronomy plays in support of NASA missions. The AAS encourages its members, other astronomy, astrophysics and related researchers, astronomy and astrophysics enthusiasts, the public and especially members of Congress and the Administration to fully embrace the report and use it when making policy decisions regarding federal investment in solar system exploration during the coming decade. In Support of Research in Astronomy EducationAdopted 2 June 2002, Albuquerque, NM In recent years, astronomy education research has begun to emerge as a research area within some astronomy and physics/astronomy departments. This type of research is pursued at several North American universities, it has attracted funding from major governmental agencies, it is both objective and experimental, it is developing publication and dissemination mechanisms, and researchers trained in this area are being recruited by North American colleges and universities. Astronomy education research can and should be subject to the same criteria for evaluation (papers published, grants, etc.) as research in other fields of astronomy. The findings of astronomy education research and the scholarship of teaching, when properly implemented and supported, will improve pedagogical techniques and the evaluation of both teaching and student teaching. The AAS applauds and supports the acceptance and utilization by astronomy departments of research in astronomy education. The successful adaptation of astronomy education research to improving teaching and learning in astronomy departments requires close contact between astronomy education researchers, education researchers in other disciplines and teachers who are primarily research scientists. The AAS recognizes that the success and utility of astronomy education research is greatly enhanced when it is centered in an astronomy or physics/astronomy department. Endorsement of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002Statement, in conjunction with more than 30 other scientific societies, released to the press 7 May 2002, Washington, DC The American Astronomical Society strongly endorses the House Science Committee's 2002 reauthorization bill for the National Science Foundation, named the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002. The authorized increases to the NSF budget of 15% over FY 2002 levels and subsequent 15% increases over authorized levels through 2005 will be of great benefit to our Nation's scientific enterprise. The National Science Foundation supports a diverse and growing portfolio of basic scientific research, which has been harmed by a long-term trend of minimal or non-existent funding increases. The American Astronomical Society will work with Chairman Boehlert in his efforts to return the National Science Foundation to a budgetary level adequate to meet its growing goals. Only by strongly supporting a balanced scientific research portfolio can the federal government guarantee the security of our nation, the health of our fellow citizens and a growing base of fundamental scientific knowledge that benefits all of humankind. Endorsement of the Decadal Astronomy and Astrophysics ReportAdopted 7 January 2001, San Diego, CA Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium "Whereas, the National Research Council has recently completed and published the report Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium and, Whereas, the report represents a consensus of the astronomy and astrophysics community as to the priorities for federal investment in astronomy and astrophysics research for the coming decade and, Whereas, the process by which the report was produced was carried out in a fully open manner and included many opportunities for input from the astronomy and astrophysics community as well as open public sessions in several locations and at meetings of the American Astronomical Society and, Whereas, the report will be presented to Congress as an important and useful document for establishing federal investment in astronomical and astrophysical research in the coming decade, The American Astronomical Society hereby endorses the report as presenting a valid and balanced set of priorities for the coming decade for investment in astronomy and astrophysical research. Further, the American Astronomical Society encourages its members, other astronomy, astrophysics and related researchers, astronomy and astrophysics enthusiasts, the public and especially members of Congress and the Administration to fully embrace the report and use it when making policy decisions regarding federal investment in astronomical and astrophysical research during the coming decade." Joint Statement in Support of the National Science FoundationAdopted 7 January 2001, San Diego, CA "The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), a group of eighty professional societies, universities, and corporations, commends Congress and the Administration for providing the National Science Foundation (NSF) with the largest dollar increase in the agency's history. The Coalition appreciates the efforts of Senators Christopher "Kit" Bond and Barbara Mikulski to double the NSF's budget, and the support of Representatives James Walsh and Alan Mollohan for the NSF. We applaud the goal of doubling the NSF budget and the FY 2001 appropriation clearly sets us on the right path. To maintain this momentum, CNSF strongly urges the Administration and Congress to provide no less than $5.1 billion, a 15% increase, for the NSF in FY 2002. We believe this increase to be a necessary step toward doubling the NSF's budget by 2006. Our national knowledge base in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering is increasingly important to broad economic and social interests. Doubling the NSF budget by 2006 will fund the crucial investments that the agency makes in key components of this vital knowledge base. These funds will permit investments in the basic research needed to rejuvenate and stimulate core disciplines of science, mathematics, and engineering, which are the underpinnings of technological innovation. The primary source of federal support for non-medical basic research in colleges and universities, the NSF is the only federal agency whose mission consists of comprehensive support for the sciences and engineering. Equally important are investments in people who will apply new knowledge and expand the frontiers of science and engineering. Through its support of research and education programs, the agency plays a vital role in training the next generation of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Currently, the NSF must decline almost as many highly-rated grant proposals as it can fund. Increased funding for the NSF will not only enable the funding of more outstanding proposals that will help broaden the nation's knowledge base, it will also enable the agency to increase the size and duration of its grants. Over the past half century the NSF has had monumental impact on our society. The NSF investment has paid dividends in building the infrastructure of the individual scientific disciplines, as well as laid the groundwork for innovative interdisciplinary research to meet modern day scientific and technical challenges. Many new methods and products arise from the NSF investment in research, such as geographic information systems, World Wide Web search engines, automatic heart defibrillators, product bar codes, computer aided modeling (CAD/CAM), retinal implants, optical fibers, magnetic resonance imaging technology, and composite materials used in aircraft. NSF-sponsored research has triggered huge advances in understanding our planet's natural processes, which lead to providing a sound scientific framework for better decision-making about earth's natural environment. These methods, products, and advances in understanding accrue from basic research performed over many years, not always pre-determined research efforts aimed toward a specific result. Furthermore, the NSF traditionally receives high marks for efficiency - less than four percent of the agency's budget is spent on administration and management. For these reasons, CNSF highly recommends that Congress and the Administration continue to invest in NSF by providing, at a minimum, $5.1 billion for FY 2002, and work to double the NSF's budget by 2006." On the Teaching of the History of the UniverseAdopted 11 January 2000, Atlanta, GA "The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is the largest organization of professional astronomers in the United States. Its 6,000 members are men and women of all convictions and a variety of religious faiths. They work in ALL fields of astronomy, including the study of planets, of stars and of the Universe as a whole. Research in each of these areas, and in many other areas of astronomy, has produced clear, compelling and widely accepted evidence that astronomical objects and systems evolve. That is, their properties change with time, often over very long time scales. Specifically, the scientific evidence clearly indicates that the Universe is 10 to 15 billion years old, and began in a hot, dense state we call the Big Bang. Given the ample evidence that change over time is a crucial property of planets, including our own, of stars, of galaxies and of the Universe as a whole, it is important for the nation's school children to learn about the great age of, and changes in, astronomical systems, as well as their present properties. More generally we believe that it is important to teach students the nature of the scientific method. Scientific inquiry involves the development and testing of hypotheses based on a systematic collection and analysis of data acquired through observations, experiments, and computer simulations. Science is not a collection of facts but an ongoing process, with continual revisions and refinements of concepts necessary in order to arrive at the best current views of the Universe. Science is unified; it is not possible to make use of scientific laws in one context, and then deny them in another. The same laws of science that govern — or empower — our advanced technology also underlie changes in time of astronomical systems. Science is not based on faith, nor does it preclude faith. Whatever personal beliefs teachers, students, parents or administrators may hold, the teaching of important scientific concepts, such as the formation and aging of planets, stars, galaxies and the Universe, should not be altered or constrained in response to demands external to the scientific disciplines. The astronomical discoveries of the past century, many made by American scientists, are among the great triumphs of the human intellect, and we deeply regret any attempt to ignore them or deny them. Children whose education is denied the benefits of this expansion of our understanding of the world around us are being deprived of part of their intellectual heritage. They may also be at a competitive disadvantage in a world where scientific and technological literacy is becoming more and more important economically and culturally." This Statement was distributed to the AAS Membership in Newsletter #100, June 2000. A PDF version is also available for printing and distribution. The Executive Committee of the American Astronomical Society endorsed the following statement On National Security and Open Conduct of Science in July 199999.3 APS Statement on National Security and Open Conduct of Science Adopted by the APS Council, 21 May 1999 http://www.aps.org/exec/sec-open.html The Council of the American Physical Society emphasizes the critical connection between U.S. national security and scientific research activities. Effective national security requires the highest standards of vigilance and circumspection, and the science on which it is based must meet the highest standard of excellence. However, national security will ultimately be damaged if the underlying science suffers as a result of government practices that indiscriminately discourage or limit the open exchange of ideas. The Council of the American Physical Society recognizes the great importance of protecting classified information. We urge Congress and the Executive agencies, in carrying out this responsibility, to employ measures and practices that will maintain the strength and effectiveness of the scientific activities on which national defense relies. Over the course of many years, immigrant scientists as well as foreign visitors and students have contributed enormously to the American scientific enterprise. They have enriched our knowledge and culture, promoted the growth of our economy, and improved the quality of our lives. Any negative characterization of scientists on the basis of ethnic or national origins is destructive to science and American values. Joint Statement on Science and TechnologyAdopted 4 March 1997 "As the federal government develops its spending plans for Fiscal Year 1998, we call upon the President and Members of Congress to renew the nation's historical commitment to scientific research and education by providing the requisite funding for the federal agencies charged with these responsibilities. Our call is based upon two fundamental principles that are well accepted by policy makers in both political parties. The federal investment in scientific research is vital to four national goals: our economic competitiveness, our medical health, our national security and our quality of life. Scientific disciplines are interdependent; therefore, a comprehensive approach to science funding provides the greatest opportunity for reaching these goals. We strongly believe that for our nation to meet the challenges of the next century, agencies charged with carrying out scientific research and education require increases in their respective research budgets in the range of 7 percent for Fiscal Year 1998. These agencies include, among others, the NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, and NASA. The increases we call for strike a balance between the current fiscal pressures and the need to invest in activities that enable long-term economic growth and productivity. Such increases would only partially restore the inflationary losses that most of these agencies suffered during the last few years. Prudent planning argues for strengthening the respective activities of major research agencies, as already recognized in pending legislation. To constrain still further federal spending on their scientific programs would jeopardize the future well being of our nation." Signatories to the statement were:
On the Future of Kitt Peak National Observatory Optical TelescopesAdopted 9 June 1996, Madison, WI "The Council of the AAS notes with concern the recent announcement by AURA that budgetary pressures at NOAO may result in closing or privatizing most of the national telescopes at KPNO. This course of action promises to disenfranchise astronomers who do not belong to private telescope consortia, and who will lose access to telescopes of small aperture. There is important research that is most effectively done with such telescopes. We urge AURA and NOAO to find a way to provide an appropriate complement of national telescopes that would best serve the health and vitality of a profession whose concern is the entire universe, near and far, bright and faint." On the Protection of Radio Frequencies Used for Radio AstronomyAdopted 11 June 1995, Pittsburgh, PA "The continuing protection of the bands in the radio frequency spectrum allocated to radio astronomical observations is of great concern to the Council of the American Astronomical Society. Protection of the radio astronomical bands should include the effects of unwanted emissions from transmissions in nearby bands. Of particular current concern to the Council is the potential allocation of the band adjacent to the 15.4 GHz radio astronomical band to space-to-earth transmissions. Unwanted emissions from such an allocation have the potential to severely disrupt radio astronomical observations in the 15.4 GHz protected band. The Council respectfully requests the NTIA to consider the potential effects on radio astronomical observations of any plans for use of the bands adjacent to the 15.4 GHz protected band." On the Priority-Setting Role of NASA's Office of Space ScienceAdopted 11 June 1995, Pittsburgh, PA "NASA has developed and operated space missions that have provided the opportunity for exciting discoveries in Astrophysics, Planetary Sciences, Solar Physics and Space Plasmas. These missions have brought major public attention to, and support for, NASA. NASA's Office of Space Science is now considering reorganizing in ways that may eliminate the divisions of Astrophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Space Physics. While the Council of the American Astronomical Society does not wish to comment on the OSS organizational structure, it urges that OSS retain the important functions of setting priorities within and among these disciplines, in accordance with long range plans developed by the community, and that scientists within NASA be identified to be responsible for setting priorities and advocating programs within these scientific disciplines." On Women, Under-Represented Groups and the Baltimore CharterAdopted 11 January 1994, Washington, DC "Recognizing the principle that the inclusion of women and other under-represented groups in the ranks of professional astronomers is important and highly desirable, the American Astronomical Society is committed to addressing issues of attitude and procedure that negatively impact any groups. The American Astronomical Society supports the goal of the Baltimore Charter, which is to promote a culture in which both women and men can realize their full potential in scientific careers. We recognize that there are many differences in the institutional structure of astronomical organizations, and that no single strategy is likely to be suitable to all of them. We do, however, urge all astronomical programs to formulate strategies that will enable them to realize the goal of the Baltimore Charter. We note that the AAS has already modified its bylaws to reflect commitment to this goal." On the Postdoctoral Application and Selection ProcessAdopted June 1988, Kansas City, MO; Reaffirmed May 2003, Nashville, TN; Reaffirmed January 2006, Washington, DC "The AAS Council is concerned about the procedures in the postdoctoral application and selection process. The postdoctoral experience now includes almost all recipients of the Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics. In recent years, deadlines for application and selection of postdoctoral appointments have advanced in the year and there is strong competition for new graduates. To insure an orderly and fair postdoctoral appointment procedure, the AAS Council recommends that the deadline for decisions on postdoctoral offers will not be required earlier than February 15th of a given year." On CreationismAdopted January 10, 1982, Boulder, CO "During the past year, religious fundamentalists have intensified their effort to force public school science classes to include instruction in "creationism." As defined in publications of the Institute for Creation Research and in laws passed or under consideration by several state legislatures, this doctrine includes the statement that the entire universe was created relatively recently, i.e less than 10,000 years ago. This statement contradicts results of astronomical research during the past two centuries indicating that some stars now visible to us were in existence millions or billions of years ago, as well as the results of radiometric dating indicating that the age of the earth is about 4 1/2 billion years. The American Astronomical Society does not regard any scientific theory as capable of rigorous proof or immune to possible revision in the light of new evidence. Such evidence should be presented for critical review and confirmation in the appropriate scientific journals. In this case, no such evidence for recent creation of the earth and universe has survived critical scrutiny by scientific community. It would therefore be most inappropriate to demand that any science teacher present it as a credible hypothesis. We agree with the findings of Judge William Overton that the Arkansas creationism law represents an unconstitutional instrusion of religion doctrine into the public schools, that "creation science" is not science, and that its advocates have followed the unscientific procedure of starting from a dogmatically held conclusion and looking only for evidence to support that conclusion. The American Astronomical Society deplores the attempt to force creationism into public schools and urges Congress, all state legislatures, local school boards and textbook publishers to resist such attempts." |
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American Astronomical SocietyAdvocates for science since 1899 |
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