Cantwell Elected AAAS Fellow

Elizabeth "Betsy" Cantwell isn't one for sitting still. The former rock climber, long-distance runner and mountaineer joined the University of Arizona in July as senior vice president for research and innovation – and professor of practice for aerospace and mechanical engineering. 

Cantwell, who holds expertise in human space exploration systems, was elected a 2019 fellow of the the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, for "distinguished leadership of science and engineering programs in environmental protection, space, homeland and global security, and economic development." She is also a member of the National Research Council’s Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; and the Space Telescope Science Institute, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy.

"I am incredibly honored to be an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science," she said. "Being recognized by my peers is especially rewarding when the opportunities for collaboration in pursuit of the advancement of science and engineering have never been greater. I'm grateful to be in a position to play a role in meeting the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and to translate research and innovation into positive impact.”

Learn more about Cantwell's plans for the university's Office for Research, Innovation and Impact in this Lo Que Pasa profile.