Which 1878 society did Thomas Edison join that promoted electrical research in the United States?

Thomas Edison joined the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1878.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science, commonly abbreviated AAAS, was founded in 1848 to promote science and communication among researchers. Edison’s membership placed him within a growing national scientific community while he was developing telegraph, telephone, and electrical technologies.

Edison was primarily a practical inventor rather than a university-based scientist. Nevertheless, his work depended on scientific experimentation, engineering, and collaboration, and professional recognition connected him with wider scientific institutions.

The AAAS is distinct from the Franklin Institute and the National Academy of Sciences. Those organizations also recognized or interacted with American scientific figures, but they are not the society identified by this membership fact.