Duquesne University Professor John Pollock, PhD, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his contributions to the field of developmental neurobiology and pain research, and STEM education outreach to museums, schools and the public through digital media. Dr. Pollock is a McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty member.
The AAAS, the world’s largest scientific society, elects fellows each year to recognize their efforts to advance science or its applications. A lifetime honor, fellows are selected by their AAAS peers.
The recognition marks Dr. Pollock’s second national honor this year—he received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in June.
“I’m honored to be selected as an AAAS Fellow,” said Dr. Pollock, biological sciences professor in Duquesne’s Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (BSNES). “Science is playing such a critical role in our society, from advancing technology to improving health care to helping understand and protect our planet. It’s exciting to be recognized with my AAAS colleagues, who are making a difference in this world that will impact future generations.”
The honor recognizes Dr. Pollock’s 29-year career in teaching university courses in neuroscience and biology, his research on chronic pain and his work in developing educational and multimedia resources for school children, including Emmy®-Award-winning broadcast television and award-winning iOS/Android educational apps.
With degrees in physics and biophysics, Dr. Pollock has produced a wide range of educational resources, including museum and traveling exhibits and interactive software and video games for the classroom. He also helped to start science summer camps for children from underserved areas, reads with 4- and 5-year-old children weekly and serves museums in Pittsburgh and beyond.
“Throughout his career, John Pollock has proven himself to be a wonderful educator, distinguished researcher and invaluable colleague,” said Philip Reeder, PhD, dean of BSNES. “It’s exciting to see John recognized among the world’s top scientists and receive this well-deserved honor.”
In addition to his teaching position, Dr. Pollock directs an active research program with undergraduate and graduate students studying chronic pain treated with nanomedicines. He is co-director of Duquesne’s Chronic Pain Research Consortium and Director of the Partnership in Education, a STEM education and health literacy research group that has developed apps on topics including why we need sleep, sports-related concussions and health literacy for pediatric transplant patients.
Dr. Pollock’s work has been funded by the NSF, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NIH Science Education Partnership Award, the U.S. Department of Education, and corporate and foundation support, among other sources.
Dr. Pollock will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2019 AAAS Annual Meeting on February 16, 2019, in Washington, DC.
Congratulations, Dr. Pollock!
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