UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
About he American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

About he American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Founded in 1848, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest federation of scientific and engineering societies, with nearly 300 affiliates including those in the social sciences. In addition, AAAS counts more than 140,000 scientists, engineers, science educators, policymakers, and interested citizens among its individual members, making it the largest general scientific organization in the world.

The continuing 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 and to increase the public understanding and appreciation of the methods of science in human progress. Attainment of these objectives involves both national and international activities. AAAS is perhaps best known as the publisher of the weekly journal Science.

The AAAS Sub-Saharan Africa Program was inaugurated in 1987, representing a concerned response on the part of US scientists and educators to the institutional crisis that their African colleagues were facing, and a commitment on the part of US scientific societies and donors to attempt to work with African institutions in order to address that crisis. To date activities have centered on improving access for African researchers to scientific and technical information, on encouraging other aspects of capacitybuilding for universities and related organizations within the region, and on promoting productive collaborative ties between US and African scientists and their institutions. These activities comprise a major element within the AAAS Directorate for International Programs.


Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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