The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s New Voices in Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine program named Kaiping Chen to its 2026-2028 cohort of members. Chen is among 20 outstanding mid-career scientists, engineers and medical professionals. New Voices aims to expand the expertise engaged in the work of the National Academies while developing a network of U.S. leaders to address national and global challenges.

Chen, an associate professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication, is a science communication scholar with expertise in deliberative democracy and computational social science. Her research advances theories in multiple fields while addressing societal challenges in public engagement with science and technology. Her work centers on the questions of what mechanisms drive inequities in science and technology communication, and how technologies can be thoughtfully built to empower communities to participate more fully in civic life.

“Now more than ever, we need to nurture the next generation of talented American researchers, who are the future leaders of the U.S. science and innovation enterprise,” said Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences.

During their two-year term of service in the program, Chen and other members of the new cohort will be supported as they participate in the National Academies’ consensus and convening activities, develop their own interdisciplinary projects, and continue building a robust network of emerging STEM leaders across the U.S. and around the world. They will be guided by an advisory committee made up of senior experts; elected members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine; and program alumni.

With the addition of the new members, the New Voices network now has 80 members across four cohorts. Members of previous cohorts have served on over 40 National Academies committees and represented U.S. mid-career STEM voices in over 100 engagements at major international and domestic events as speakers, planning committee members, and attendees.

Visit the New Voices website for more information about the members and the program. New Voices is funded in part by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences Kobelt Fund, and the Shu and KC Chien Endowment.

The National Academies are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln. For more information, visit nationalacademies.org.

This story was repurposed from a press release from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.