AGU, especially through the Thriving Earth Exchange, has been reaching out to communities of all sizes and learning more about what they want to do with respect to climate change. What we hear again and again is a willingness, even an eagerness, to prepare for the effects. Community leaders tell us, however, that they aren’t … Read more
The threats of climate change, growing water and energy demands and threats to human health are posing unprecedented challenges to human populations across the globe. Effective solutions to these challenges will require the expertise of the science community, in collaboration with policymakers, NGOs, non-profit organizations and corporations. It is this desire for cross organizational solutions … Read more
By Dorothy Merritts, Professor, Department of Earth and Environment, Franklin and Marshall College In 2014, while attending a National Science Foundation (NSF) workshop on infrastructure for Earth surface processes research at the Field Museum in Chicago, my colleague, Laurel Larsen, and I toured the museum’s “Underground Adventure” exhibit. The exhibit encouraged us to imagine shrinking … Read more
In honor of National Native American Heritage Month and as a Native American Earth scientist, I honor the resiliency of Native Americans to maintain their deep rooted beliefs, cultures, and languages. I respect the passion of Native peoples to fight for the protection of their land. I honor the sovereignty of Native American tribes. I … Read more
In 1990, President Ronald Reagan initiated the U.S. Global Change Research Program, and Congress mandated that a report be released at least every four years outlining what climate change – past, present, and future – means for the United States. In the decades since, four of the National Climate Assessments have been released and AGU … Read more
Tomorrow, 13 October, is International Day for Disaster Reduction, created by the United Nations in 1989 to promote risk-awareness and natural disaster reduction. Now, as then, the need for proactive action is clear to help save lives and reduce devastating economic losses. Since 13 October last year, the United States has seen flooding from Tropical … Read more
On June 17, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will observe its World Day to Combat Drought and Desertification. The devastating impacts of drought and desertification on people are highlighted this year, as the UNCCD has made the linkages between desertification and human migration its annual theme. As noted by the UN[i], one billion … Read more
With the federal spending bill process for FY19 well underway, AGU has been tracking how our federal science agencies are faring. The process has a long way to go yet, but with some preliminary numbers in for each of the science agencies, I wanted to let you know where things stand today. Currently, the House … Read more
By Michael Mischna, Secretary of the Planetary Sciences section and Deputy Chief Scientist of Solar System Exploration Directorate at JPL Science and discovery are, fundamentally, social activities. They have the greatest impact when conducted in the open with a free exchange of ideas. Even discoveries made in seclusion still need to be shared with the world. … Read more
As hard as it may be to believe, AGU’s 2018 Fall Meeting is less than nine months away! When session proposals closed last week the diversity and number of submissions received made it obvious that you are just as excited and inspired as we are with this year’s theme: What Science Stands For. AGU sends … Read more