A Celebration of the Past and Opportunities for the Future

In nearly 100 years, AGU’s community – innovators, expansive thinkers and incisive researchers – has seen its fair share of discovery. We are proud of where we’ve been and what we’ve learned, and look eagerly ahead to the next phases of our journey.

As AGU approaches its Centennial in 2019, we recognize that the global and societal challenges we face today that are likely to become even more acute in the years to come. Our Centennial is the opportune time to broaden the reach of our voice and ignite an era of meaningful engagement between scientists and society where the value that our science brings is more widely understood and acknowledged. It is imperative that we, as a community, lead the way into the next 100 years by pushing the boundaries of our science and sharing it with the world.

We know that the future is uncertain, the pace of change and the types of challenge and opportunities that will face us are unknown, but it will undoubtedly be shaped by our past achievements. To celebrate our Centennial and document the moments that have defined Earth and space science, we are launching the AGU Narratives Project: a diverse collection of compelling scientific and personal stories that showcase our scientists, their experiences, and their hopes and concerns for the future.

AGU Narratives will be collected through a variety of methods, and we’re beginning with a call for personal accounts. If there is an Earth and space science story that you think we should be capturing, I encourage you to submit your idea to AGU Narratives.

We will also be partnering with StoryCorps Archives – one of the largest collections of human voices, featuring personal accounts of experiences from around the world –  adding to the more than 400,000 stories already on record.

Using the StoryCorps app, you can easily record a story of discovery, a challenge, or even a favorite moment from your time in Earth and space science. You can share your own story or consider interviewing a colleague, friend, mentor or student. I hope you are as excited about this opportunity as I am, and I encourage you to download the app, visit the website, and share your story today!

Fall Meeting will also feature many Centennial moments. StoryCorps will be on site with a booth and their iconic Airstream trailer where they’ll be interviewing a select few about the challenges and achievements of the past Century. Attendees will also have a chance to find one of 100 Centennial ‘golden tickets’ hidden throughout the event. Look out for more information on these Centennial events and opportunities as we get closer to Fall Meeting.

These past 100 years are worth celebration and reflection. We’ve explored the unknowns of space and the depths of the oceans. We’re able to paint a picture of events that took place millions of years ago and we can glimpse into the future, predicting patterns in weather and natural phenomena. As we move into the next century, we will face challenges head on and work toward a bright future, together.