Carol Finn

2014 AGU Union Medalists, Awardees, and Prize Recipient Announced

On behalf of the Honors and Recognition Committee and the Union award selection committees, we are very pleased to present the 2014 AGU Union medals, awards, and prize recipients. We honor these individuals, whose passion for scientific excellence and outstanding achievements in advancing and communicating science significantly contribute to a better future for us all. Their work truly embodies AGUs vision to “advance and communicate science and its power to ensure a sustainable future.”

John Orcutt Selected as Editor of New Open‐Access Journal

John Orcutt will serve as the inaugural editor of AGUs newest open-access journal, Earth and Space Science. Orcutt is a distinguished professor of geophysics at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego and former president and general secretary of AGU.

Celebrating the Power of Science

Have you ever stopped to think about what AGUs more than 62,000 members represent? With a crowd that large, theres bound to be some variety, right?

Our Biggest and Best Fall Meeting Ever

For more than 4 decades, scientists from around the world have converged on AGUs Fall Meeting to hear about the latest discoveries in Earth and space science, develop new collaborations and partnerships, and be a part of a passionate, innovative, and welcoming community of scientists dedicated to our mission of “Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity.” The 2013 Fall Meeting was no different, and with more than 22,000 attendees joining us in San Francisco from 9 to 13 December, it was our biggest meeting ever!

AGU Makes Research More Accessible to Public by Making Journals Freely Available Online

As a leader in the scientific community, AGU has a responsibility to advance our science and support the execution of high-quality research. Perhaps equally important, we also have a responsibility to share that knowledge as widely as possible.

Ambassador Award Nominations Sought: Celebrate Work in Outreach and Societal Impact

A seismologist who starts giving talks at her local library and citys chamber of commerce about her work gradually becomes a go-to resource for her entire community on natural hazards preparation and safety. A professor at a community college creates an ambitious teaching initiative that supports hands-on research experiences for students who have never before been given the chance to conduct experiments. An Arctic ecologist assembles and leads a state-wide group of colleagues whose regular communication with legislators helps inform policy decisions and long-term regional planning. A heliophysicist steps up and coordinates new space weather research collaborations whose participants cross continents and disciplines.

Highlights of 2012 Fall Meeting

This past December the streets of San Francisco, Calif., surrounding the Moscone Center were awash with a sea of Earth and space scientists attending the 45th consecutive AGU Fall Meeting, eager to share and expand their knowledge “for the benefit of humanity.” As it has for many years, attendance at AGUs Fall Meeting—the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists in the world—continued to increase, this year passing the 24,000 mark. Attendees at the meeting, which took place on 3–7 December 2012, hailed from 97 countries; nearly 7000 of them were students. News from the Fall Meeting was carried in newspapers and on Web sites around the world, and the social media sphere lit up with talk of AGU and the Fall Meeting. Its even reported that for a short time we were a trending topic on Twitter.

2013 AGU Medalists, Awardees, and Prize Recipient Announced

The Honors and Recognition Committee is proud to present the 2013 AGU honorees. These individuals have distinguished themselves by their transformational discoveries, persistence, dedication, and pursuit of excellence. We are pleased to recognize their breakthrough achievements in advancing Earth and space science and their outstanding contributions and service to the scientific community. Their passion, vision, creativity, and leadership have expanded our scientific understanding, have illuminated new research directions, and have made Earth and space science thrilling, immediate, and relevant to audiences beyond as well as within the scientific community.

Variety Is the Spice of Fall Meeting

In just a few weeks, thousands of Earth and space scientists will gather in San Francisco for AGUs 46th annual Fall Meeting, where they will present their research, participate in workshops and town hall meetings, and network until they drop. With a crowd this large, theres bound to be some variety in the types of attendees. But what makes Fall Meeting such an amazing and inspiring event are the forms that variety takes.

Member Engagement Is Key to Our Success: A Note From AGU's New President, Carol Finn

Carol Finn has been a member of AGU since 1980. She currently serves as a senior research geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey, and her major research interests include geological interpretation of potential field data, volcano hazards, and tectonics. Finn received her B.A. in geology from Wellesley College, her M.S. in geophysics from the University of Colorado, and her Ph.D. in geophysics from the University of Colorado. She is a member of the Department of Geological Sciences Advisory Board for the University of Colorado and a fellow of the Geological Society of America, and she has written 54 referreed publications—half in AGU journals. Below are a few words from Finn as she starts her new position as AGU president.