Two outstanding Arizona State University faculty spanning the physical sciences, psychological sciences and science policy have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
ASU’s Susanne Neuer and Lekelia “Kiki” Jenkins, both marine scientists, are being honored this spring for their career contributions to science, innovation or socially distinguished efforts to advance science and its applications.
“This year’s class of fellows are the embodiment of scientific excellence and service to our communities,” said Sudip S. Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. “At a time when the future of the scientific enterprise in the U.S. and around the world is uncertain, their work demonstrates the value of sustained investment in science and engineering.”
The AAAS, publisher of the journal Science, is the world’s largest general scientific society. Election as a fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. Within that general framework, each awardee is honored for contributions to a specific field.
This latest class is composed of 471 scientists, engineers and innovators across 24 AAAS disciplinary sections. The fellows are a distinguished cadre recognized for their achievements across disciplines — from research, teaching and technology to administration in academia, industry and government to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public.
Oceans in view
Neuer was honored by AAAS “for contributions to oceanography, directly through research, indirectly through the building and integration of long-term data series, and for unparalleled outreach and education efforts about the oceans.”
Neuer is a biological oceanographer and marine ecologist and has been a professor in the School of Life Sciences at ASU for almost 20 years, where she has taught oceanography, ecology, environmental life sciences and marine biology.
Neuer now serves as the founding director of the new School of Ocean Futures in the College of Global Futures and Global Futures Lab at ASU.
Her research group studies the role of ocean life in the carbon cycle and sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, also called the biological carbon pump. Neuer has carried out much of her research in the subtropical Atlantic Ocean, funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA.
Her group has also studied sea ice organisms in the Arctic, the role of microorganisms in colonizing microplastic pollution in the ocean, and harmful algal blooms in our local reservoirs.
Neuer has been active in advancing women in science, has served on the national board of the Association for Women In Science and led a chapter of AWIS at ASU.
She was president of ASU’s Faculty Women’s Association and is still active on its executive board.
Read more about Neuer's work
Citizen science
Lekelia "Kiki" Jenkins was also honored in this year’s AAAS Fellows class “for outstanding scholarly contributions to marine sustainability science, exemplary commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and unwavering dedication to public engagement and service."
Jenkins is an award-winning marine sustainability scientist, science dance choreographer and associate professor at ASU's School for the Future of Innovation in Society.
Jenkins’ research centers on the human dimensions of marine sustainability solutions, including fisheries conservation technologies and marine renewable energy.
Her work has led to regulatory changes that allow more sustainable fishing practices, has advised international fisheries diplomacy and has informed renewable energy policy. Her research includes field sites along the Southeast, West, Gulf and Alaskan coasts of the United States, and in Australia, Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Scotland.
Jenkins also studies science dance as a means of science engagement, science communication and social change.
Read more about Jenkins' work
The 2024 fellows class is also being featured in the AAAS News and Notes section of the journal Science this month. The ASU duo will be honored in person at the AAAS Fellows forum and reception, to be held on June 7 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
More Environment and sustainability
Beyond the bite: Finding respect for snakes
Snakes will never win a popularity contest.The low-profile reptiles have amassed a following of haters that dates back to Biblical times. The “serpent” is often associated with deception, danger and…
'Weather jiujitsu' could help us combat extreme weather
In jiujitsu, a fighter can defeat a larger, stronger opponent with a few carefully placed, strategic moves. Arizona State University scientist Upmanu Lall wants to apply that same principle to…
First complete map of world’s seagrass offers warnings and hope for conservation
It’s time we gave seagrass the credit it’s due. This hero of a plant protects coastlines, stores vast amounts of carbon, and supports ecosystems that people and wildlife depend on. But we don’t…