Professor John Kelmelis named AAAS Fellow

Penn State University School of International Affairs Professor and Affiliate member of the Law School faculty John A. Kelmelis, was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. According to a letter from Alan Leshner, CEO of the AAAS, he was elected for his "distinguished leadership of scientific research and applications programs in government and for creatively incorporating science into policy and policy education."

Kelmelis, a preeminent scholar of national and international geography, joined Penn State with more than thirty years of government service and leadership, during which time he provided scientific advice on U.S. foreign policy, regional resource management, disaster response, and information infrastructure. Kelmelis also has a courtesy appointment with the Department of Geography at Penn State.

In addition to his teaching scholarship, Kelmelis serves on the Geographical Sciences Committee of the National Research Council, the operational arm of the National Academies of Science and is a Scientist Emeritus at the U.S. Geological Survey. He continues to provide policy advice to the White House, Department of State, and other government entities on geology, hydrology, biology, geography, and related sciences and technologies in establishing and executing U.S. foreign policy. His most recent scholarship focuses on the global policy impact of climate change and using geospatial science and technology in sustainable development.

Founded in 1848, the AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of Science.