Materials Research Society Joins Leading Academic and Professional Societies as an Inaugural Member of the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM

he Materials Research Society (MRS) has joined with over 80 leading academic and professional societies as an inaugural member of the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) to advance professional and ethical conduct, climate, and culture across their respective fields. The establishment of the Societies Consortium reflects a shared understanding that professional societies have a unique responsibility in their role as standard-setters for STEMM fields to address the pervasive problem of sexual and gender harassment.

The Societies Consortium was established by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and the American Geophysical Union (AGU), with EducationCounsel serving as the policy and law consultant for the initiative. All 80+ participating societies have agreed to help develop and deploy high-impact resources for societies and others in STEMM fields.

“This consortium provides both leadership for a broad diversity of our societies’ collective voices and actions to advance ethics, equity, inclusion, and excellence in STEMM research, education, and practice,” said Shirley Malcom, senior advisor at AAAS.

Focused on advancing full participation and excellence in STEMM and preventing and responding to sexual and gender harassment in STEMM environments, the Societies Consortium will develop research- and evidence-based resources for societies that include findings and expertise from social and behavioral sciences. 

“Since our founding, MRS’s core value is to be broadly inclusive and egalitarian,” said Todd M. Osman, MRS Executive Director.  “MRS has a long-standing tradition of support for inclusion and diversity in the scientific and engineering community.  Participation in the Societies Consortium is a next logical step for MRS, collectively working with peer organizations who embrace diversity as a driving force for innovation, excellence and new discoveries.”

For more information on the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM, contact SOCIETIESCONSORTIUM@educationcounsel.com.

MRS is an international organization of approximately 14,000 materials researchers from academia, industry and government, and a recognized leader in promoting the advancement of interdisciplinary materials research and technology to improve the quality of life. MRS members are engaged and enthusiastic professionals hailing from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and engineering—the full spectrum of materials research. Headquartered in Warrendale, Pennsylvania (USA), MRS membership now spans over 80 countries, with 49 percent of members residing outside the United States. In addition to its communications and publications portfolio, MRS organizes high-quality scientific meetings, attracting over 13,000 attendees annually and facilitating interactions among a wide range of experts from the cutting edge of the global materials community. MRS is also a recognized leader in education outreach and advocacy for scientific research. More information about the Materials Research Society can be found on its website, www.mrs.org.