Dear Members,
Affective science has long played a crucial role in shaping our understanding of emotion, mental and physical health, decision-making, and social behavior. Yet, as our field continues to expand its impact, science itself faces growing challenges worldwide. Dramatic cuts to research funding, diminished support of scientific education and training, and marginalization of entire lines of research threaten the foundation and future of scientific inquiry across the globe.
Scientific progress depends on the freedom to inquire, access knowledge, and communicate discoveries. When funding is unstable, or when certain topics become politically contentious, the generation of new knowledge is put at risk—delaying advances that could benefit society. As affective scientists, our work not only advances knowledge, but informs mental and physical health treatment, advances societal well-being, and benefits education, technology, and social policy. It is therefore essential that our field remains strong, well-supported, and free from external pressures that compromise scientific integrity.
The Society for Affective Science stands by our members whose work and livelihood are impacted by financial or ideological attacks on their science. We know that these impacts are not distributed equally amongst all scientists. Those who are earliest in their careers, who have the least stable professional affiliations, or who are marginalized are the most vulnerable. One of SAS’ core values is the support of colleagues through the entirety of their careers, and this core value is all the most important during these difficult times.
We also urge you to act. It is important not to remain silent about the importance of our work or its real impact on human life. Action comes in many forms, including calls to political representatives, engagement in protests, broadly disseminating findings, and educating others about the value of our work. We urge those of you with a pulpit—whether digital or physical—to use it to advocate for the value of our science. It is more important than ever for scientists to engage with the public, communicate our findings clearly, and advocate for policies that prioritize evidence-based decision-making.
Despite these challenges, our commitment to advancing affective science remains unwavering. As a society, we will continue to support our members, band together with other policy and advocacy groups to advocate for research freedom, and ensure that our discoveries contribute to a more informed and equitable world. Science has always thrived in the face of obstacles, and together, we will uphold the principles that make our work possible.
Thank you for your dedication to this mission and to the pursuit of knowledge that benefits all. We look forward to joining in solidarity in Portland.
The Executive Board of the Society for Affective Science