Day 8 at #AGU20 featured the NSF Director, and a great diversity of science and science for, and with, society

By: Brooks Hanson, Lauren Parr on 11 December 2020 at 9:04 am

Thursday at #AGU20 was another busy day, including these sessions and events:

NSF Director Dr. Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan discussed the future of the agency and major initiatives in his #AGU20 Agency Lecture.
Another set of excellent Named Lectures, including summaries of recent understandings on the differentiation of the Early Earth (Boyet), how warming is exacerbating ocean pandemics (Harvell) and complicating societies response to droughts and floods (Di Baldassarre), and the value of and work needed to empower open data (Robinson), as well as understanding how deltas form and evolve (Neinhuis) and volcanos erupt (Neri).
A Union Session on Evolving Climate Services Across the United States explored how best to make societal decisions Before, During, and After Extreme Events.
Two press briefings on the Solar Orbiter mission and upgrades to ALVIN.
Special guest Bill Nye joined the Virtu-ale Happy Hour Thursday night with climate rapper Baba Brinkman, climate activist Alexandria Villaseñor and Julia Kumari, CEO and founder of ISeeChange. They discussed the importance of science communication and the importance of intergenerational work to combat the climate crisis.
Highlights from programs and institutions in the Earth and space sciences are on AGU TV, along with a daily introduction. Check them out in the lobby of the online meeting.
Thanks to Claire McKinley for creating a list of #AGUIndigenous talks and presentations!
Some sessions to check out on demand or in the poster gallery:
- C031 – Controls on Marine-Terminating Glacier, Ice Stream, and Ice Shelf Dynamics in Observations and Models II
- SY031 – Developing a Culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in All Our Work, in All Our Places II Posters and SY037 – Developing a Culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in All Our Work, in All Our Places I
- GC054 – Disparities in the Impacts of Climate-Related Extreme Events on People and Communities I Posters
- B050 – Paleobiological Impacts of Past Climate Events I Posters
- ED022 – Sharing Their Science: Enabling Scientists in Public Engagement and Virtual Engagement Efforts I
- U012 – Science in the Time of COVID-19 I
- EP032 – Progress in Tectonic Geomorphology: Novel Methods and New Applications I
- AE010 – Thunderstorm Electrification and Lightning Meteorology III
- S029 – How Do Earthquakes Start? II Posters

#AGU20 in the news:

Can Volcano Forecasting Make Visiting Whakaari Safe Again? Eos, 10 December. Last year’s explosive eruption at the New Zealand volcano tragically took tourists by surprise.
Homes and Other Buildings Abound in Natural Hazard Hot Spots. Eos, 10 December. Researchers mined maps of natural hazards and land use to show that nearly 60% of structures are built in regions at high risk of earthquakes, wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and/or tornadoes.
An Ice Probe on Earth Could Help Us Find Life in Space. Eos, 10 December. An instrument called WATSON can help find biosignatures on icy ocean worlds.
Scientists Are Investigating How the Quiet Of Covid-19 Affects the Ocean. Gizmodo, 9 December. The impact of covid-19 lockdowns on wildlife living on land has been clear, but emerging research shows the quiet has extended to the oceans, too.
How COVID-19 looks from above. COSMOS, 10 December. Scientists studying satellite images of the Earth have identified changes linked to COVID-19 lockdowns that may shed light on how the environment responds to massive reductions in air and water pollution.
Three Signs a ‘New Arctic’ Is Emerging. Scientific American, 9 December. Record wildfires, dwindling sea ice and ecosystem disruptions all point to the rapid change besetting the region

Some posters to peruse in the poster gallery:

We continue to enjoy your “Pets of #AGU20” when you tag us on Twitter (@theAGU) and use #AGU20 to show us how you and your pet(s) are enjoying Fall Meeting at all hours! Keep sharing and we’ll keep adding to our very adorable roundup!

Join our Twitter thread: Tell us you’re an Earth and space scientist without saying you’re an Earth and space scientist #AGU20

And say hello to Cassandra Smith’s nephew and we hope #AGU40 attendee: https://twitter.com/C_MarieSmith/status/1337041711940440067

As a reminder, #AGU20 recorded content will be available to registered attendees until 15 February 2021.

Note: not all recordings of live sessions may be available at the time of this post, but they will be available as soon as possible. Please check the online platform for updates.