Science & Society
Our Mission
Science & Society catalyzes community leaders, current and future scientists, and the general public to build a stronger scientific ecosystem, society, and world.
The world is more polarized than ever. Science—especially when applied to questions about the environment, medical interventions, and new technologies—has become a splinter between people and between communities.
To overcome these divides, the Aspen Institute launched the Science & Society Program in 2019 within the Aspen Institute Health, Medicine and Society Program with seed support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Johnson & Johnson.
We leverage the established assets, networks, and platforms of the Aspen Institute to convene and mobilize these groups to build bridges between them. Fundamentally, Science & Society serves as a laboratory to test ideas and approaches that help explain, connect, and maximize the benefits of science for public good. Led by a core staff of trained scientists, the program is an early responder to emerging trends, offers accessible and digestible information that combats misinformation, and is on the pulse of critical issues at the intersection of science and society.
Science & Society Happenings
Ensuring Bold Science—at Aspen Ideas: Health 2025
In Aspen, Colorado, Executive Director Aaron Mertz opens a session at Aspen Ideas: Health (AIH) 2025 titled “Ensuring the Promises of Bold Science,” a discussion inspired by the Science & Society Program’s forthcoming documentary film highlighting the societal impact of basic science research—and what society stands to lose if America’s scientific enterprise collapses amid changes in federal science policy. The panel is moderated by STAT biotech and life sciences reporter Jonathan Wosen and features former astronaut Mae Jemison, AstraZeneca Head of U.S. Oncology Mohit Manrao, and Cure CEO Seema Kumar. Both Seema (pictured with Aaron) and Mae are founding members of the Science & Society’s Program Advisory Council, which Seema currently co-chairs. Also in Aspen, Aaron spends time with Program Assistant Breana Turner (pictured), a 2025 Aspen Ideas: Health Fellow; Peggy Hamburg, Advisory Council member and former head of the FDA; Harvey Fineberg, head of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, which has supported a number of Science & Society projects over the years; and AIH panelist psychiatrist Nina Vasan (pictured), founder and director of Brainstorm: The Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation. At the closing session of the four-day gathering, Mae Jemison interviews two young rockstar scientists: Dasia Taylor, founder of Variegate, a health tech venture focused on creating accessible tools to close diagnostic gaps in care (Dasia was featured in a 2022 Community talk of the Science & Society Program’s youth initiative Our Future Is Science), and Sirish Subash, 3M Young Scientist Challenge winner and America’s Top Young Scientist, recognitions for his invention PestiSCAND, a handheld pesticide residue detector that quickly identifies harmful residues on produce.
Rewriting the Script: Science, Storytelling, and the Fight for Public Trust
At their June meeting, Mt. Sinai immunology professor Shruti Naik, one of the Executive Producers of the Science & Society Program’s forthcoming documentary Six Degrees From Science, alongside other producers Executive Director Aaron Mertz and filmmaker Ted Richane, presents to the Scientific Advisory Board of the Keystone Symposia about the latest national findings on public trust in science in the context of their film that will convey to audiences why basic science research is essential to keep our society healthy and thriving.
Featured Events
Criminal Justice, AI, and Bias
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Our efforts are anchored in five core values of science
- .Integrity: Science offers methodical pursuits to understand the natural world
- .Ethics: Scientists and the public share responsibility to implement science for the benefit of humanity
- .Hope: Scientific innovation will make the world safer, healthier, and more connected
- .Trust: The rigor of data and evidence leads to confidence in discovery
- .Engagement: An active public and collaborative scientific workforce are vital to addressing complex community issues
Program Prospectus
A bite-sized overview of our work
Our Team
Science & Society Advisory Council
The Science & Society Program is guided by an Advisory Council comprised of experts and thought leaders who engage with science in society from myriad angles: academia, education, journalism, public institutions, advocacy, finance, and the arts.
Please consider making a tax-deductible, charitable donation to support our work
The Science & Society Program is grateful to the following supporters:
Current Program Support
Current Project-Specific Support
Founding Program Support
Past Program Support
Past Project-Specific Support
Stay Connected
At the Science & Society Program, we work from the perspective that science is for everyone. Whether you are a member of the scientific and medical communities, a science communicator, an interested member of the public—or anyone in between—we invite you to join us. Sign up for the Science & Society Program mailing list below to receive the latest news on our upcoming projects and invitations to our public events, delivered straight to your inbox.