Updates to AGU Honors & Recognition Program

Last year, we recognized 183 individuals for their tireless dedication to advancing discovery and solutions in Earth and space sciences. We encourage you to visit the 2020 Award Showcase to see what each honoree accomplished and how their contributions have helped our community.

With such an impressive and accomplished group, we are excited to see who our community nominates in 2021! Nominations for AGU Honors & Recognition are open until 15 April for section awards as well as Union Medals, Awards and Prizes. Union Fellow nominations are accepted until 15 March.

The AGU Honors & Recognition Committee has made some updates to the program that will better showcase the depth and breadth of our community’s achievements around the world. We are also grateful to our community for their commitment to make our Honors program as diverse and inclusive as possible.

Updated Section Awards and Lectures

AGU Sections recognize individuals for their outstanding work within their scientific field, honoring awardees in various stages of their careers while the named lecturers represent some of the most innovative minds in their fields.

Here are the new additional awards or lectures, which now makes 25 awards and lectures available (previously there were 23).

1. Education Section – Established the Dorothy LaLonde Stout Lecture
2. GeoHealth Section – Established the GeoHealth Section Award
3. Addendums to Union Awards
   • Robert C. Cowen Award for Sustained Achievement in Science Journalism to allow self-nominations.
   • The Asahiko Taira International Scientific Ocean Drilling Research Prize to expand eligibility to individuals who are within 15 years of receiving their Ph.D.
   • Africa Award – Earth/Ocean Sciences to add “student mentorship” as a part of the award scope/description.

AGU Section Awards and Lectures nominations are accepted until 15 April.

New Honors policies

While AGU Honors & Recognition’s general policies are the same, we have updated our Career Stage Eligibility Requirement Allowance Policy to include the following circumstances as exceptions to the career stage policies:

• Childbirth
• Adoption
• Serious personal illnesses
• Primary caregiver for a person with a series of illness
• Qualifying exigency arising from military service affiliation

Note: allowances for other extenuating circumstances (i.e., economic hardship, other career breaks, etc.) can also be considered. Requests for an allowance can be submitted for up to two (2) years beyond the eligibility requirement.