URIs_MOMENTUM_Research_and_Innovation_Magazine_Spring_2024_M

THE AAAS CONNECTS BOTH SCIENTISTS AND NON-SCIENTISTS ALIKE—SUPPORTING ALL THOSE WHO STRIVE TO ADVANCE SCIENCE IN A PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY.

Two URI Professors Honored as AAAS Fellows

written by MOLLY STEVENS ’20

This year, the American Association for the Advancement of Science named oceanography Professor Steven D’Hondt and Clinical Professor of Environmental Communication Sunshine Menezes to its fellowship ranks. Nominated by fellow scientists, the appointments recognize those making significant contributions to scientific research, teaching, technology or administration. The URI professors join a family including Ellen Ochoa, W.E.B. DuBois, and Thomas Edison. With members in more than 100 countries across dozens of fields of study, the association brings together researchers engaged in scientific study and those who advance the field. The URI fellows exemplified the society’s ethos perfectly with D’Hondt, a field- and lab-based research scientist, and Menezes, a science communication leader, both joining in the same class. But getting the fellowship wasn’t easy. Even the nomination process is competitive, with the association’s smaller steering groups being allowed only to nominate a small number of people. Then, there is a multi-step review process and, finally, a vote by a leadership council determines the winners.

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