American Association for the Advancement of Science
TheHEARTof Science

Dr. Taft Broome

Engineer

Joining the AAAS Community. Service. Relationships. Opportunity.

Taft Broome was already an AAAS member when he joined the association’s Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility in 1984. He immediately recognized the value of building relationships with his new AAAS colleagues.

He knew that AAAS was bigger than one scientist — it is what Broome calls a “world-leading community.”

Broom’s first meeting as a member of the committee was a press conference announcing its work documenting and reporting on human rights violations in the Philippines. Not only was he surrounded by some of the leading scientists in their fields, but he and his colleagues were also making a difference.

“Here I was, involved with some of the leading scientific minds in the world,” Broome says. “Being part of AAAS introduced me to top scientists and led to opportunities I wouldn’t otherwise have had.”

Broome, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a professor of engineering at Howard University, has always been keenly aware of the value and reward of living out his academic charge of service. He knows that his work — mentoring, teaching, and counseling — is one of his greatest contributions as a professor.

And he appreciates AAAS and its long-standing commitment to creating an environment that empowers him to be involved with his students, his community, his peers, and the public.

“Here I was, involved with some of the leading scientific minds in the world. Being part of AAAS introduced me to top scientists and led to opportunities I wouldn’t otherwise have had.”

“I’m an engineer, and I’m always thinking about how I go about my job,” he says. Success is measured not only by solving problems, but also by understanding the real-world impact his work has. This focus on the impact of his work led Broome and colleagues in his field to collaborate to develop an entirely new discipline — the philosophy of engineering.

Developing a new discipline? That’s a significant undertaking, and Broome knew where to look for support. Networking with his AAAS colleagues, he tapped into a wealth of knowledge. He knew that AAAS was bigger than one scientist — it is what Broome calls a “world-leading community.” Today, Professor Broome is recognized as a leading authority for his work in this area.

AAAS also helps Broome prepare his students — the next generation of scientific leaders — as they embark on their careers. In a world where the scientific community must be leaders addressing and overcoming global challenges, he is sure AAAS will lead the way. He knows that AAAS is committed to excellence no matter the cost, and the association’s commitment to delivering honest science benefits its individual members, the scientific community, and the public.

For Broome, membership in AAAS is dynamic. He emphasizes that he participates in AAAS, actively engaging in conversation with his peers around the world. It’s the push and pull of learning, giving, teaching, and serving that motivates him.

“Being an AAAS member means being part of an ongoing conversation that I couldn’t be part of anywhere else.”

You can make a difference. Five reasons to join AAAS today.

1. Engage and Expand Your Network
2. Stay Informed
3. Advance Your Career
4. Access Online Research
5. Save Money

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