AAAS Science and Human Rights Program

Scientist Recognized by the Science and Human Rights Program

Each year the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program hosts a reception at the AAAS Annual Meeting to honor one or more scientists who, through action and example, have promoted human rights, usually at great personal risk. In 2006, the Program honors Dr. Igor Sutyagin.

Igor Sutyagin, who studied physics and history, was arrested in October 1999 on charges of espionage related to a study he conducted on military-civilian relations in Russia. Despite the lack of evidence supporting the charge, the Russian government has convicted Dr. Sutyagin, and he has now spent more than four years in jail. International scientific organizations and human rights organizations continue to seek his release.

Present to accept the recognition on behalf of Dr. Sutyagin will be Pavel Podvig. Dr. Podvig is a research associate at the Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation, where he conducts research on technical and political issues of missile defense, space security, U.S.-Russian relations, structure and capabilities
of the Russian strategic forces, and nuclear nonproliferation.

A video station will be avaiable at the reception where meeting participants can record messages to send Igor and his family in Russia as a show of solidarity.

There will be a brief ceremony beginning around 5. Reception is open to non-meeting participants. Complimentary refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

Cosponsors:

• American Chemical Society
• American Physical Society
• Committee of Concerned Scientists

For more information please contact AAAS staff member Victoria Baxter.

To see previous years honorees, go here.