Looking to the Past and Looking to the Future: Thoughts on Science and Women’s Equality Day

On 21 August, 2017, a solar eclipse swept across North America. Many AGU members were observing this wonder of our universe using everything from cutting-edge instruments to cardboard glasses ordered online. How different the faces studying the geophysics are now than they were in 1878 when Maria Mitchell of Vassar College was explicitly not invited … Read more

“For a Borderless World of Geoscience:” Reflections on the JpGU/AGU Inaugural Joint Meeting

Four years ago, members of Japan Geosciences Union (JpGU) and AGU began working on ways our two scientific societies could work in a more collaborative and integrated fashion. A year later, AGU first participated in JpGU’s 25th anniversary symposium. Then, in 2016, AGU members presented in over 50 joint sessions at JpGU’s annual conference. This … Read more

Why Building Diversity in the Earth and Space Sciences Matters

By Margaret Leinen, President, American Geophysical Union and Eric Davidson, President-elect, American Geophysical Union As an organization, AGU’s mission is to “promote discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity.” Humanity is without boundaries. Humanity is inclusive. Humanity represents us all. We cannot live up to all that our mission promises if … Read more

AGU Council Meeting Summary

By Jenny Riker, Geology Teaching Fellow, University of Bristol; AGU Council Member Last week, AGU’s Council had its first meeting of 2016. A member of the Council Leadership Team is asked to share reflections at the close of each meeting. We are now past the midpoint of our two-year terms, and with tangible momentum, we … Read more

Comets, Probes, and Gender Inequality In Science

By Carol Finn, President, American Geophysical Union, Margaret Leinen, President-elect, American Geophysical Union, and Eric Davidson, Incoming President-elect, American Geophysical Union During the Rosetta probe’s successful deployment of Philae on Wednesday, a male European Space Agency scientist speaking for the project was captured by the TV cameras wearing a shirt that featured images of partially naked women. While he … Read more

The Symphony that is AGU’s Fall Meeting

A member of the Fall Meeting program committee examines a poster board during the planning meeting

By Denis-Didier Rousseau (École Normale Supérieure), Fall Meeting Program Committee Chair During the recent Fall Meeting Program Committee meeting, I had an opportunity to reflect on my first year as chair of this important group and I found that I have a new appreciation for everything AGU does to advance the Earth and space sciences. Planning … Read more

The Changing Face of Publishing at AGU

A recent Eos article discussed how AGU’s data policy for publications is going to foster an even better understanding and increase the lasting impact of our Earth and space science research. In reading it, I was struck about how much of an impact the changes we are making in our publishing work enhance on our … Read more