AAS Members Elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
This post is adapted from an American Academy of Arts & Sciences press release:
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has announced the election of 252 new members, of which 55% are women. Among the astronomers and astrophysicists in the class of 2021 are three AAS members:
- Vicky Kalogera (Northwestern University)
- Angela V. Olinto (University of Chicago)
- Jill Tarter (SETI Institute)
The Academy was established in 1780 by the country’s founders to provide guidance to a young nation that would face challenges and need expertise and excellence to emerge stronger. While the founders did not anticipate a year with a historic pandemic, overdue racial reckoning, and political strife, the purpose of electing new members is more compelling than ever.
The 2021 election provides an opportunity to recognize extraordinary people who help solve the world’s most urgent challenges, create meaning through art, and contribute to the common good from every field, discipline, and profession.
“We are honoring the excellence of these individuals, celebrating what they have achieved so far, and imagining what they will continue to accomplish,” said David Oxtoby, president of the American Academy. “The past year has been replete with evidence of how things can get worse; this is an opportunity to illuminate the importance of art, ideas, knowledge, and leadership that can make a better world.”
The AAS congratulates Drs. Kalogera, Olinto, and Tarter!