Still Curious: When Science Meets the Public

Humans are born curious, and that curiosity fuels our growth and development. For scientists and engineers that curiosity remains a way of life. Thus, curiosity is the bridge that can support interactions between scientists and the many non-scientist publics. But the relationship between science and society requires understanding of and attention to the needs of many different public audiences who support the enterprise as well as commitment and skills in reinforcing those relationships. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has been committed to supporting these interactions since its founding. The challenges of delivering on that commitment change over time with changing circumstances, societal values, and norms; so too has the organization evolved to meet these challenges. The lessons learned are instructive for the larger science community.