TheAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU) is a501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Earth,atmospheric,ocean,hydrologic,space, andplanetary scientists and enthusiasts that according to their website includes 130,000 people (not members). AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international fields within the Earth and space sciences. The geophysical sciences involve four fundamental areas:atmospheric andocean sciences;solid-Earth sciences;hydrologic sciences; andspace sciences. The organization's headquarters is located onFlorida Avenue in Washington, D.C.[7]
The first meeting of the AGU took place on April 23, 1920. In attendance were 25 members. Up to 1930, the number of members was restricted and members were elected. In 1932 the first annual dues ofUS$2 were imposed.[13] The membership grew to 4,600 in 1950; 13,000 in 1980; and 26,000 in 1990.[12] As of 2018, it had 62,000 members from 137 countries.[14]
Journal of Geophysical Research – sections A (Space Physics), B (Solid Earth), C (Oceans), D (Atmospheres), E (Planets), F (Earth Surface), and G (Biogeosciences)
AGU co-published (along with the AMS and the AAG) its first electronic journal,Earth Interactions, in 1997. It started its own electronic journal,Geochemistry,Geophysics, Geosystems, in December 1999.[22] It made a full transition to electronic publishing in 2001. For all its journals, the electronic version became the publication of record. This was accompanied by a new identification scheme for articles that entirely did away with sequential page numbers. Instead, each article had adigital object identifier (DOI). As an example, 10.1029/2001GL014304 consists of the publisher identifier (10.1029), the year (2001), the journal code (GL), and an article number (014304). This new system was met with complaints from libraries and scientists. The article numbers provided no clue for libraries to find an article in printed versions, and even scientific databases were not set up to handle DOIs. AGU officials claimed that the problems were a temporary cost of being a frontrunner, but did retroactively assign each article a four-digit article number.[23]
In 2012 the journals and books, including over one and a half million pages of legacy content, were transferred to theWiley Online Library.John Wiley & Sons were recognized for this work with the IT Project Team of the Year Award at the UK IT Industry Awards for 2013.[24][25][26]
Five AGU journals areopen access only:AGU Advances,Earth’s Future,Earth and Space Science,GeoHealth,JAMES, andSpace Weather.[27] The remainder aredelayed open access journals, having free access after a two-year rolling period.[28]
The AGU hosts a number of blogs, collectively known as theAGU Blogosphere, informally publishing frequent updates on the Earth and space sciences.[29]
AGU publications are copyrighted, but in the United States many exceptions to the exclusive rights of copyright are allowed under thefair use provision, part of theCopyright Act of 1976. Making copies of publications are allowed for such uses as teaching and research as long as a set of four criteria are met. However, whenTexaco's corporate library made systematic copies of journal articles for its collection, AGU and five other publishers took Texaco to court. The judges found for AGU. Texaco was fined and agreed to retroactively purchase a license from theCopyright Clearance Center.[30][31][32]
While more than 40 presidents have provided scientific leadership for the AGU since 1919, operational leadership has been provided by a larger team. The first senior team member wasJohn Adam Fleming, who was elected Secretary in 1925 and changed the name of his position to General Secretary. He served as a volunteer while working at the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institution. By 1943, with the membership nearing 2,000, AGU recognized the need for a full-time professional administrator. The post was renamed Executive Secretary and Waldo E. Smith was hired. He served until 1970 and then Athelstan Spilhaus, Jr. was hired as executive director.[13][33] Christine McEntee replaced him in 2010.[6] Medals have been named after Fleming and Smith.[13] The AGU leadership in 2021 included, in addition to the president, a CEO, 4 executive vice presidents, 6 vice presidents, 7 directors, and a chief digital officer.[34]
The Africa Award for Research Excellence in Earth or Ocean Sciences (established 2015), awarded annually to an early career scientist from the continent of Africa, "for completing significant work that shows the focus and promise of making outstanding contributions to research in Earth or ocean sciences."
The Africa Award for Research Excellence in Space Science (established 2015), awarded annually to an early career scientist from the continent of Africa, "for completing significant work that shows the focus and promise of making outstanding contributions to research in space science."
TheAmbassador Award (established 2013), awarded annually to up to five honorees in recognition "for outstanding contributions to one or more of the following area(s): societal impact, service to the Earth and space community, scientific leadership, and promotion of talent/career pool." This is the only AGU award whose recipients are conferred AGU Fellows.
The Athelstan Spilhaus Award (established 2006), named afterAthelstan Frederick Spilhaus, Sr. who created thebathythermograph and also a long-running science cartoon, "for enhancement of the public understanding of Earth and space science."
The Charles S. Falkenberg Award (established in 2002), named after Falkenberg, who applieddata visualization and information technology to earth sciences, to an individual "scientist under 45 years of age who has contributed to the quality of life, economic opportunities, and stewardship of the planet through the use of Earth science information and to the public awareness of the importance of understanding our planet."
ThePavel S. Molchanov Climate Communications Prize (established in 2011 and permanently endowed by Pavel S. Molchanov in 2023) is awarded "in recognition of the communication of climate science to promote scientific literacy, clarity of message, and efforts to foster respect and understanding of science-based values, particularly around climate change."
TheDavid Perlman Award (established 2000), named after the science editor of theSan Francisco Chronicle, "for excellence in researching and reporting a news story that meets one or more of the following criteria: brings new information or concepts about AGU sciences to the public's attention, identifies and corrects misconceptions about AGU sciences, or makes AGU sciences accessible and interesting to general audiences, without sacrificing accuracy."
The Edward A. Flinn III Award (established 1990), named after a leader of the NASA Geodynamics Program who directed efforts to detect motion of the Earth's crust using laser ranging, to an "individual who personifies the Union's motto 'unselfish cooperation in research' through their facilitating, coordinating, and implementing activities."
The Excellence in Geophysical Education Award (established in 1995) "to acknowledge a sustained commitment to excellence in geophysical education by a team, individual, or group. To educators who have had a major impact on geophysical education at any level (kindergarten through postgraduate), who have been outstanding teachers and trainers for a number of years, or who have made a long-lasting, positive impact on geophysical education through professional service."
The International Award (established 2007) "to recognize an individual scientist or a small team for making an outstanding contribution to furthering the Earth and space sciences and using science for the benefit of society in less favored nations."
The Outstanding Student Presentation Award (OSPA), "are awarded to promote, recognize and reward undergraduate, Master’s and PhD students for quality research in the geophysical sciences. Each year, Sections recruit judges to assess and score student oral and poster presentations at meetings. Typically the top 2–5% of presenters in each Section are awarded an OSPA."[37]
The Robert C. Cowen Award (established 1991), named after a long-time editor ofThe Christian Science Monitor, "for a journalist or a group that has made significant, lasting, and consistent contributions to accurate reporting or writing on the geophysical sciences for the general public."
The Science for Solutions Award (established 2012) "for significant contributions in the application and use of Earth and space sciences to solve societal problems."
TheWalter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism (established 2000), named after the renowned science writer ofThe New York Times, awarded annually for science feature writing.[38]
The William Kaula Award (established 2003), named after geophysicist and physical geodesistWilliam M. Kaula, for "extraordinary dedication to, and exceptional efforts on behalf of, the Union's publications program." (Awarded on even-numbered years.)[39]
AGU nominates members for fellowship in the society. According to the AGU website "To be elected a Fellow of AGU is a special tribute for those who have made exceptional scientific contributions to Earth and space sciences as valued by their peers and vetted by section and focus group committees."[40] A maximum of 0.1% of the membership can be elected each year.[41]
TheCharles A. Whitten Medal (established 1984), named after Charles A. Whitten, a former AGU General Secretary and geodesist, "for outstanding achievement in research on the form and dynamics of the Earth and planets."
TheDevendra Lal Memorial Medal (established 2016) was named afterDevendra Lal. Lal had a founding role in developing the field in which cosmic rays produced isotopes on Earth and are used as tracers to investigate a wide range of Earth Science problems. The Medal is awarded "for outstanding Earth and/or space sciences research by a scientist belonging to and working in adeveloping country."[42]
TheJames B. Macelwane Medal (established 1961), named afterJames B. Macelwane, a former AGU president who was deeply interested in teaching young scientists, "to be awarded annually for significant contributions by outstanding young scientists." Recipients must be no more than 10 years past their highest degree.
TheJoanne Simpson Medal (established in 2017), named afterJoanne Simpson, the first woman in the United States to receive a PhD inmeteorology, "for significant contributions to the earth and space sciences by an outstanding mid-career scientist."[43]
TheJohn Adam Fleming Medal (established 1960), named afterJohn Adam Fleming, a major contributor to magnetic standards and measurements, "for original research and technical leadership in geomagnetism, atmospheric electricity, aeronomy, space physics, and related sciences."
TheMaurice Ewing Medal (established 1974 and co-sponsored by theUnited States Navy), named afterMaurice Ewing, a major contributor to oceanography, "for significant original contributions to the scientific understanding of the processes in the ocean; for the advancement of oceanographic engineering, technology, and instrumentation; and for outstanding service to the marine sciences."
TheHarry H. Hess Medal (established 1984), named afterHarry Hammond Hess, who made major contributions to the study of the oceanic lithosphere, "for outstanding achievements in research of the constitution and evolution of Earth and other planets."
TheInge Lehmann Medal (established 1995), named afterInge Lehmann, the discoverer of the Earth'sinner core, "for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the structure, composition, and dynamics of the Earth's mantle and core."
TheRoger Revelle Medal (established 1991), named afterRoger Revelle, an oceanographer notable for his contribution to the understanding of global change, "for outstanding contributions in atmospheric sciences, atmosphere-ocean coupling, atmosphere-land coupling,biogeochemical cycles, climate, or related aspects of the Earth system."
TheWaldo E. Smith Medal (established 1982), named after Waldo E. Smith, the first Executive Secretary of AGU, to recognize "individuals who have played unique leadership roles in such diverse areas as scientific associations, education, legislation, research, public understanding of science, management, and philanthropy, and whose accomplishments have greatly strengthened and helped advance the geophysical sciences."
TheWalter H. Bucher Medal (established 1966), named afterWalter Hermann Bucher, a former AGU president and major contributor to crustal problems, "for original contributions to the basic knowledge of the crust and lithosphere."
TheWilliam Bowie Medal is the highest AGU honor and is awarded at most annually for "outstanding contributions to fundamental geophysics and for unselfish cooperation in research"; its namesake was the first recipient in 1939.
Plenary session at an American Geophysical Union policy conference in Washington, DC in May 2012
AGU holds an annual meeting every December (known as the Fall Meeting).[46] Until 2017, the meeting was held yearly in San Francisco. Because of renovations at the San Francisco venue, the 2017 meeting took place inNew Orleans and the 2018 meeting in Washington, DC.[47] It returned to San Francisco in 2019 and its location will rotate among San Francisco, New Orleans, Chicago, andWashington, DC. Previously, a second meeting was held every Spring (April through May) in locations around the world. The latter grew out of AGU's annual Spring meeting, which had been held for many years inBaltimore, until declining interest caused AGU to move the meeting to different locations, starting withBoston in 1998. With the 2003 meeting inNice, France, it became known as the Joint Assembly because AGU co-sponsors it with other societies such as theGeochemical Society, theMineralogical Society of America (MSA), theCanadian Geophysical Union (CGU), and theEuropean Geosciences Union (EGU). The Fall Meeting had more than 25,000 attendees in 2018.[48]
In addition to the Fall meeting that covers all areas of the geophysical sciences, AGU sponsors many specialized meetings that are intended to serve the needs of particular scientific disciplines or geographical areas, including the Ocean Sciences Meeting, which is held in even numbered years. Small, highly focused meetings are offered through the Chapman Conferences.[49]
The large numbers and international participation in the Fall Meeting results in a large contribution togreenhouse gases. The 9500 participants in the 2002 meeting traveled an average of 8,000 kilometres (5,000 mi) to attend, producing 1.3 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or one-sixteenth of the average yearly emissions for Americans. The AGU has made some adjustments such as asking shuttle bus drivers to turn off their engines when they are not moving, but 95% of the emissions come fromjet fuel. In an unpublished study, David Scott and Lawrence Plug of Dalhousie University estimated that the AGU could reduce emissions by 7.7% if it moved the Fall Meeting toDenver, Colorado.[50][51]
In 2017, the first joint JpGU-AGU meeting was held in Chiba, Japan.[52] The meeting was a joint effort between AGU and theJapan Geoscience Union.
On occasion the AGU Council issues position statements on matters affecting public policy that are related to geophysics. These includebiological evolution,natural hazards,science education and funding, andclimate change.[53] The AGU adopted its first position statement on climate change in December 1998.[54] That statement began
Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have substantially increased as a consequence offossil fuel combustion and other human activities. These elevated concentrations of greenhouse gases are predicted to persist in the atmosphere for times ranging to thousands of years. Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases affect the Earth-atmosphere energy balance, enhancing the natural greenhouse effect and thereby exerting a warming influence at the Earth's surface.[55]
The statement continued,
Present understanding of the Earth climate system provides a compelling basis for legitimate public concern over future global and regional-scale changes resulting from increased concentrations of greenhouse gases.[55]
After a discussion of scientific uncertainties the statement concluded
AGU believes that the present level of scientific uncertainty does not justify inaction in the mitigation of human induced climate change and/or the adaptation to it.[55]
The adopted position statement was backed up by a detailed supporting document.[56] The AGU position statement has undergone several revisions, most recently revised and reaffirmed in 2012.[57]
In 2014, AGU developed the Sharing Science program to provide scientists with the skills and tools that they need to communicate science with any audience.[58] The program offers resources, workshops, hands-on support, and opportunities to help scientists more effectively communicate with broader audiences about Earth and space science. Audiences range from journalists, educators and students, policy makers, and the broader public.
Members of the AGU who work in politically-controversial fields have come under legal attack. For example,Michael Mann, a Fellow of the AGU and lead author of the original "hockey stick graph" study, faced a legal demand to turn over his private emails fromKenneth Cuccinelli II, at the time the attorney general of the state of Virginia, a conservative Republican who argues that there is no persuasive evidence that human activity is warming the planet. The court rejected Cuccinelli's demand.[59] However, such legal challenges continue, so in 2012 AGU entered in a partnership with theClimate Science Legal Defense Fund to offer legal counseling at the Fall Meeting.[60]
In 2011, AGU created a Task Force on Scientific Ethics, "to review and update existing policies and procedures for dealing with scientific misconduct."[61] This effort received a setback when its chairman,Peter Gleick, announced that he had lied to obtain internal documents fromthe Heartland Institute and then leaked them to the public.[62] Gleick, a climate scientist and recipient of theMacArthur Fellowship, said he was motivated by frustration with the efforts of groups such as the Heartland Institute to attack climate science and scientists, but admitted that it was a serious lapse of judgement.[63] He resigned from the task force on February 16, 2012, and was replaced by Linda Gundersen, director of the Office of Science Quality and Integrity at theUnited States Geological Survey (USGS).[64]
In July 2019, the AGU was awarded a three-year grant from theAlfred P. Sloan Foundation to launch the AGU Ethics and Equity Initiative, a collaboration among the AGU and the National Center for Professional and Research Ethics at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.[69] The initiative will tackle issues around sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination by developing new educational resources and tracking tools to measure impact.
In December 2022, AGU punished climate scientistsRose Abramoff andPeter Kalmus for misconduct, who interrupted a plenary session of the annual Fall Meeting with a call for scientists to engage in protest against climate change. AGU removed their research presentations from the meeting, banned them from participation, launched a misconduct inquiry, and complained to Abramoff's employer,Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Kalmus and Abramoff further claimed that AGU threatened to have them arrested if they returned to the meeting.[70] Abramoff was fired by Oak Ridge in January 2023.[71]
In 2014, the AGU accepted 5469 gifts, grants and pledges from individuals and corporations. Of these, the 1919 Society (gifts of over $100,000) includedExxonMobil,Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Management International, andNature's Own.[72]: 19 AGU also was found to have many annual events sponsored by corporations, including an annual Student Breakfast (supported by ExxonMobil) andAmazon Web Services supported research grants and that offer access to its cloud computing resources.[72]: 26–27 In 2015, the AGU Board approved a new Organizational Support Policy. The policy covers subjects such asadvertorials and member surveys. It requires that partnerships contribute to AGU's mission, vision and goals and that the AGU "apply vetting to ascertain that partners are not engaged in false misinterpretations of science."[73]
The sponsorship of AGU by ExxonMobil became a source of concern for many members after evidence surfaced that ExxonMobil had known about climate change for decades but had actively worked to undermine climate science.[74][75][76][77] On February 22, 2016, a letter signed by 100 scientists was delivered to the AGU, requesting that they cut all ties with ExxonMobil and other companies that foster climate misinformation.[78][79][80] The AGU Board of Directors met on April 22, 2016, and voted to continue accepting sponsorship from ExxonMobil, arguing that there was not unequivocal evidence that ExxonMobil continues to participate in climate misinformation.[81] Instead of making a short-term political statement, the Board wished to engage with the energy industry over the long term.[82][83] In response, SenatorSheldon Whitehouse and RepresentativeTed Lieu sent a critical letter saying that ExxonMobil continues to fundclimate denial and is misleading the AGU.[84] TheUnion of Concerned Scientists also sent a letter urging them to reconsider.[85] However, in a meeting on September 23, 2016, the Board upheld its previous decision.[86]
In November 2021, AGU announced in a video presentation that, as a consequence of itsEnvironmental, social, and corporate governance policies, it no longer had any direct investments in fossil-fuel companies and it was beginning to divest its investment portfolio from mutual fund holdings in fossil-fuel companies.[87]
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