November 20, 2017, Mountain View, CA – SETI Institute Fellow and Director of Education at the SETI Institute Edna DeVore has been awarded the additional distinction of Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). AAAS is recognizing Edna for her distinguished contributions to astronomy education and to the professional communities working to increase appreciation for and understanding of the universe. Fellows are elected to the position by their AAAS member peers.

“I am delighted and deeply honored to be selected as an AAAS Fellow for my career in astronomy education,” said DeVore. “During my career, my achievements were possible only because I worked with a great team of talented educators and willing scientists. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed being at the interface between scientific researchers and educators, students and the public, connecting people with the amazing discoveries about the universe.” 

The SETI Institute has had the privilege of working with Edna for 25 years and her contributions have shaped STEM education and outreach programs that have impacted millions of children, young adults and educators. Included among the many who have been taught, mentored, inspired and positively influenced by Edna are those who have gone on to become scientists, teachers, writers, thought leaders, and space science advocates.

Since joining the SETI Institute, Edna has led education and public outreach for NASA Missions including the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, NASA’s Astrobiology Institute, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), including the Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program, and Kepler. She conceived of and is now leading the team implementing the Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts program, which has the potential to touch girls throughout the United States. Edna has overseen the NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program that pairs students with SETI Institute science mentors, co-led curriculum two projects: Life in the Universe for grades 3-9, and Voyages through Time, an integrated high school science course. She also served as acting CEO of the SETI Institute.

“Edna is an extraordinary force in the world of STEM education.”  said Bill Diamond, President and CEO of the SETI Institute. “She has established herself as one of the most creative and inspiring leaders in STEM, where her vision and determination have brought about such landmark programs as “Reaching for the Stars – NASA Science for Girl Scouts.” This STEM oriented Girl Scouts badge program has the potential to impact the lives of millions of young girls, celebrating the excitement and joy of exploration and discovery.  We are both fortunate and proud to have Edna on our team and are delighted that AAAS is conferring this honor upon her.” 

Edna’s service to scientific education community extends well beyond the SETI Institute. She has served on boards and committees of many other organizations including Astronomical Society of the Pacific, NASA Advisory Committee Subcommittee of Astrophysics, American Astronomical Society, AbSciCon, Foundation for Microbiology, and NSF “Women in Astronomy.” Additionally, Edna has published, lectured, and taught widely throughout her career. Before coming to the SETI Institute Edna was a planetarium director and science educator.

About the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science (www.sciencemag.org) as well as Science Translational Medicine, Science Signaling, a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances, Science Immunology, and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes nearly 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world. The non-profit AAAS (www.aaas.org) is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert! (www.eurekalert.org), the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS. See www.aaas.org.