Fellows are elected annually by the AAAS Council for "efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications [which] are scientifically or socially distinguished".

Examples of areas in which nominees may have made significant contributions are research; teaching; technology; services to professional societies; administration in academe, industry, and government; and communicating and interpreting science to the public.

[8] Maria Elena Zavala, who is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring, is also a Fellow.

[9] Other fellows includes Jiaxing Huang, and Duan Xiangfeng, a materials scientist who received the Beilby Medal and Prize in 2013.

[12] This is to limit the effects and tolerance of sexual harassment, which Margaret Hamburg, the president of the AAAS said "has no place in science".