25 September 2019
AGU’s Journal Space Weather to Become Open Access
As we celebrate our Centennial year, AGU strives to promote and support the Earth and space sciences, and this includes increasing access to journal content. Starting 17 October, the AGU journal Space Weather: The International Journal of Research and Applications (SWE), devoted to the understanding and forecasting of space weather, will transition to an open access model with all articles accepted after that date accessible free of charge to readers. Space …
24 September 2019
AGU Releases Report to Address Flooding in Communities
AGU’s global community of Earth and space scientists has contributed research and expertise to our understanding of—and solutions for—climate change, natural hazards, and their related impacts on people. Climate change, the increasing severity of extreme weather, and resulting floods are health and economic crises that we cannot ignore. To highlight the role that science plays to help address and mitigate issues such as flooding in communities across the United States, …
18 September 2019
Federal agency moves, vacant science positions create concerns about “brain drain” in the U.S. scientific enterprise
Recently, there have been media reports that some federal agencies—namely, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and parts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—are planning to move headquarters science staff far outside the Washington, D.C. area, causing many scientists to choose to leave these agencies rather than relocate. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) has left hundreds of scientific positions vacant, putting stress on …
13 September 2019
AGU Position Statements Now Open for Member Comment
Every 4 years, AGU’s members have a chance to weigh in on position statements critical to maintaining the role of science in our society. Make sure your voice is heard. Starting today, 13 September 2019, AGU members will have 30 days to comment on revisions to two position statements: one on data and one on climate change. This open comment period is both an important opportunity for and responsibility of …
9 September 2019
AGU supports scientific integrity and the critical work of government scientists
AGU believes in science free of interference and political influence. We support our members and all scientists at federal agencies in the U.S. and around the world who make decisions and announce findings based on evidence and incontrovertible facts. These scientists, including those at NOAA and the National Weather Service, frequently provide research that protects our lives, communities, economy, and security. Interference with their work can impact lives and property …
22 August 2019
We Have Your Backs: Supporting the Work of Brazilian Earth Scientists
By AGU Past President and Director/Professor at the Appalachian Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Where scientific findings have not conveniently fit into the ideological preferences of political leaders around the world, science and scientists are increasingly under attack. In a symposium on human rights threats to scientists at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting in Washington, DC, an Iranian environmental scientist shared a chilling story about learning of his imminent arrest if he were to return home from an international trip. Other participants shared stories …
2 August 2019
AGU Commends the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2019
This week, the United States Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2019, which was signed by President Trump. On behalf of the global AGU community of 60,000 Earth and space scientists, I’d like to thank the champions for science on Capitol Hill, as well as the leadership in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, for passing a budget that puts non-defense spending, which includes funding …
22 July 2019
Convergence: A Call for More Robust Global Science Collaboration
At AGU, we often say that science has no borders and takes no political sides. Science has the powerful ability to make profound impacts on nations, economies, and local communities. However, a tide of nationalism across the globe — manifested in the form of incendiary social media posts, trade wars, reactionary protectionism, and even overt violence — is on the rise. And often hand-in-hand with nationalism comes scientific disinformation campaigns …
9 July 2019
Scientists Tackle Grand Challenges In the Earth and Space Sciences In New Special Centennial-Themed Collection
By AGU President Robin Bell and AGU Executive Director/CEO Chris McEntee
One hundred years ago when AGU was founded there were still large unmapped places on our planet and the idea of a person stepping on the moon was a dream. Discovery and wonder have characterized the last 100 years of science as we learned the plates shift, the climate changes, and scientists are studying the Moon, Mars, and beyond in detail. Our species now has a global view of how …
3 July 2019
Protecting Science at the State and Federal Level
News coming out of Alaska right now reminds me how strongly science depends not just on federal but also state financial support. And it’s disheartening to hear that this crucial science funding is facing challenges at all levels. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy recently vetoed the state’s budget, which would mean huge cuts for the state – including a $130 million—or 41 percent—cut to the University of Alaska system’s funding from …
From the Prow is a two-way conversation between AGU’s leaders and the broad Earth and space science community they serve. It features discussions on trends, Union programs and initiatives, and reflections on the strategic direction of the organization.