Five faculty members from UC Davis have been elected as Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS.

Founded in 1848, the association describes itself as the world's largest general scientific society, advancing science through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education and other areas. It also publishes the journal Science.

Plant scientist Alan Bennett, a professor and an associate vice chancellor for research in the area of technology and industry alliances, was elected in the association's agriculture, food, and renewable resources section. He was recognized for his distinguished contributions to the biology of fruit ripening and for leadership in creating new avenues to transfer fundamental scientific discoveries into agricultural practice.

Robert Cardiff, professor and former chair of pathology at UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center and at the UC Davis Center for Comparative Medicine, is a specialist in transgenic mice and mouse histopathology and internationally renowned for his contributions to breast cancer research. He has used transgenic mouse models to identify genetic triggers, treatments and interventions for human prostate and breast cancer.

Alan Hastings, profeessor of environmental science and policy, is an expert at using mathematical models to predict changes in populations of plants and animals over time and space, and in using ideas from complex dynamics to study problems in ecology.

Entomology Professor Walter Leal, elected in the association's Biological Sciences section, was recognized for his distinguished contributions to the field of chemical ecology and for pioneering work in the physiology of pheromone reception in insects. His research focuses on the molecular basis of the highly selective and sensitive olfactory system, which enables insects to smell.

Cheuk-Yiu Ng, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry, was recognized for his contributions to "molecular photoionization, thermochemistry, and state-to-state reaction dynamics." Using vacuum ultraviolet lasers and synchrotron radiation, Ng has developed unique methods for studying bond energies and chemical dynamics with unprecedented detail and precision.

Neelima Roy Sinha, professor in the Section of Plant Biology, was elected for her work showing that the same basic set of genes controls the growth and development of leaves in all land plants. In plants with complex leaves, such as tomato, carrot, fennel, cycads and ferns, KNOX genes are switched on during plant development. Her work gives insight into the evolution of land plants.