AMES, Iowa - The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is honoring Matt DeLisi of Iowa State University for his contributions to criminal justice.
The association has named DeLisi, a Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences and coordinator of criminal justice, a new AAAS Fellow. DeLisi joins the association's latest class of 449 scientists, engineers and innovators who are being recognized for "their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements."
DeLisi's award citation notes his, "Distinguished contributions to the field of criminology and criminal justice, particularly the multifactorial underpinnings of antisocial conduct and pathological criminal behavior."
DeLisi said his current focus is on multiple book projects that explore three themes:
- why Americans love the true crime genre
- the forensic and psychological features of sexual homicides and
- criminal justice policies and practices.
DeLisi is the author of more than 30 books, including 2023's "Ted Bundy and the Unsolved Murder Epidemic: The Dark Figure of Crime." The book argues that Bundy's criminal career was far longer and deadlier than his criminal convictions. The book also offers ideas to clear a backlog of 250,000 to 350,000 unsolved homicide cases in the United States.
His most recent book, "True Crime America: The Functions of Our Murder Obsession," provides cultural and forensic explanations of why true crime is among the most popular cultural genres.
DeLisi and the other new AAAS Fellows will be formally recognized at a Fellows Forum scheduled for May 29 in Washington, D.C.
The AAAS is one of the world's largest general scientific societies and publishes the journal Science and other peer-reviewed scientific journals.
