Executive Order

Message from ASN President Marian Neuhouser

February 6, 2017

Greetings!

The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) is a global leader in nutrition science research and practice. Over the past several years we have made large efforts to establish partnerships around the world. Our global growth and interactions with diverse nutrition scientists makes us stronger and richer as a professional society. As we enter a new Administration, there are a number of quickly-moving situations that impact ASN and our members, particularly those ASN members who are foreign-born or who may live or work in countries outside the U.S. I wanted to make you aware of ASN-related activities on these items.

ASN is deeply concerned with how the recent Executive Order on Travel and Immigration may impact many members of our Society and we continue to monitor the situation. The travel ban has a significant impact on ASN’s mission. As a global organization, we greatly understand the value of collaboration and the need for scientific dialogue and networking that transcends borders. I wanted to make you aware that ASN’s partner organizations FASEB and Research!America signed onto a AAAS Multisociety Letter to the President expressing concern about the ramifications of the Executive Order on Travel and Immigration and asking the President to rescind the EO. The ability of ASN to provide for the free interchange of scientific ideas and progress is significantly compromised as result of this EO and it precludes the ability of several of our members to attend our annual meeting in Chicago this spring.

Related to this issue, the EB societies, including ASN, are currently working together to develop a policy to provide full refunds to any scientists who planned to participate in Experimental Biology 2017 and are unable to do so as a result of the Executive Order on Travel and Immigration. ASN will also provide ASN on Demand at a special discount to all nutrition scientists and nutrition societies from the countries impacted.

Please also be aware that there is a March for Science being planned for Saturday, April 22 in Washington, DC, and in several satellite cities, including Chicago. This is the first day of ASN’s Scientific Sessions and Annual Meeting during EB, also in Chicago. ASN is working closely with the other EB societies to monitor this recent development and to determine how this might impact travel and EB meeting activities. We will provide updates as they are available.

I, and the rest of the Board of Directors, want to hear from you if there are steps or actions that you feel ASN should be taking with regard to these items. We want our members to know that ASN is a home for all nutrition scientists and that we understand the challenges being faced during this uncertain time. Thank you for your membership and for your strong support for advancing global public health through nutrition science.

All my best,

Marian L. Neuhouser, PhD, RD, ASN President