The American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting is one of the largest and most influential interdisciplinary scientific conferences in the world. Held annually, it serves as a global forum for presenting new research, discussing pressing societal challenges, and fostering collaboration between science and policy.
The meeting typically features keynote lectures, panel discussions, workshops, and networking events that span a wide range of scientific disciplines, from natural sciences and engineering to social sciences and science communication. Its overarching goal is to advance science for the benefit of society by connecting knowledge with real-world application.
Science at scale to maximize societal impact
The 2026 meeting, held in Phoenix, Arizona, was organized around the theme "Science @ Scale." This theme emphasized the importance of expanding scientific knowledge and evidence-based policy to address global challenges at many societal levels. It focused on how scientific discoveries and policy innovations can be implemented broadly and effectively, encouraging collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and the public to maximize societal impact.
Connecting experts across disciplines
Attendance at the AAAS Annual Meeting is highly diverse. Participants include academic researchers, industry scientists, engineers, policymakers, science communicators, educators, and students. Representatives from government agencies, international organizations, and the private sector also attend, reflecting the meeting's interdisciplinary and cross-sector nature. The event hopes to be inclusive, bringing together experts and stakeholders from different backgrounds to exchange ideas, build networks, and explore how science can inform decision-making and public policy on a global scale.
A path to building better cities
The European Research Council convened several panels, including A Path to Building Better Cities chaired by ERC officer Silvia Grassi. Three speakers - all ERC grantees - explored the challenges and opportunities of urbanization, focusing from the disciplines of computer science, social anthropology, and art on how cities can become more sustainable, inclusive, and adaptive. Framed by the projection that nearly 70% of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, the discussion emphasized that urban issues-such as food systems, mobility, and social cohesion-require urgent attention.
Food citizenship
Cultural anthropologist Cristina Grasseni's presentation (Leiden University) on collective food procurement networks across European cities introduced the concept of "food citizenship", showing how grassroots initiatives in cities like Gdańsk, Rotterdam, and Turin challenge the idea of a one-size-fits-all sustainability model. A key takeaway was that these networks are not just about access to food, but also about fostering inclusion, shared responsibility, and diverse forms of civic participation. A critical note was struck about whether such localized, community-driven models could be scaled without losing their social and cultural specificity.
Active participants
Rather than treating food procurement as a purely technical or economic process, the presentation highlighted its cultural, social, and visual dimensions. A key point was that collective food procurement-ranging from allotment gardens to food cooperatives and solidarity networks-redefines people not as passive consumers but as active participants in shaping urban sustainability.
Impactful but invisible to policy frameworks
One important insight - in discussion too - was that many impactful practices are small-scale, informal, and often invisible to policy frameworks. These initiatives may resist efficiency-driven scales but are deeply embedded in local needs and identities. The presentation emphasized "scaling out" rather than "scaling up"-supporting diverse, locally grounded initiatives through networks and adaptation, rather than imposing standardized solutions.
Equity in future urban mobility systems
This perspective resonated strongly with the panel's broader discussion on human-centered urban futures, including in the contribution of Rafał Kucharski (Jagiellonian University) who brought a more technological perspective, presenting simulations of future urban mobility systems where autonomous vehicles interact with human drivers. His findings sparked lively debate about equity: while autonomous vehicles may improve efficiency and reduce emissions, we (humans) have to establish which values we want to pursue through them, such as: collaboration or competitiveness? A particularly interesting discussion emerged around which algorithmic scenarios policy makers could use to regulate these systems early, to prevent inequalities from becoming embedded in infrastructure.
Art as political critique and social change
Finally, social anthropologist Monika Salzbrunn (Lausanne University) explored the intersection of art and activism in super-diverse cities. Her work on "artivism" demonstrated how creative expression can serve as a powerful tool for political critique and social change, especially in contexts of migration or marginalization. This resonated strongly with the audience, prompting reflections on how grassroots forms of engagement-such as performance and street art-can influence urban policy and public discourse.
A need for interdisciplinarity
Overall, the panel underscored the importance of interdisciplinary approaches. A key takeaway was that sustainable urban futures depend not only on technological innovation but also on cultural understanding, social diversity, and citizen engagement. The discussion highlighted that cities are not just sites of problems, but laboratories of creative, diverse solutions.
Academic freedom amid rising geopolitical tensions
The ERC was also active at the AAAS championing frank discussion on academic freedom and science diplomacy. For example the panel "Rethinking Science Diplomacy in a Fractured World," organized by Luke Clarke and Ian Wiggins, addressed how science diplomacy is evolving amid rising geopolitical tensions, misinformation, and shifting global power structures. A central theme was that the traditional assumption-science as a neutral bridge across nations-is increasingly under strain.
Science diplomacy more contested and more necessary
Florent Bernard (Delegation of the European Union to the United States) proposed "A European Framework for Science Diplomacy", emphasizing coordination, equity, and strategic positioning in global collaborations. Richard Catlow (The Royal Society, London) reflected on the historical evolution of science diplomacy, noting that scientists must now actively navigate political complexities rather than operate above them. While, Kimberly Montgomery (Director of International Affairs and Science Diplomacy at AAAS) highlighted emerging challenges such as AI, economic competition, and the growing influence of private-sector actors. A key takeaway was that science diplomacy today is more contested but also more necessary.
The ERC certainly made a bold step at profiling European social sciences and humanities at a venue where industrial applications and the hard sciences are a commonsensical presence.
