Posted on September 18, 2024 in ASRC News, Environmental Sciences Initiative
The award acknowledges researchers who have exhibited longstanding excellence in Earth and space science education.
ASRC Environmental Science Initiative Founding Director Charles Vörösmarty won the AGU American Geophysical Union Fellow for Excellence in Earth and Space Science Education Award, which is given annually to a mid-career or senior scientist team, individual or group demonstrating a sustained commitment to excellence in geophysical education.
AGU, the world’s largest Earth and space science association, celebrates individuals and teams through its annual Honors and Recognition program for their accomplishments in research, education, science communication, and outreach. These honorees have transformed our understanding of the world, impacted our everyday lives, improved our communities and contributed to solutions for a sustainable future.
Professor Vörösmarty’s research centers broadly on human-environment interactions. He has led interdisciplinary study teams using earth system models to assess the impact of water resource management worldwide and how they generate downstream coastal zone risks; strategic U.S. water-food-energy risks; and global threats to human water security and aquatic biodiversity. He has served in leadership positions supporting several national and international science consortia, including as co-chair of the Global Water System Project, as an Arctic research commissioner (appointed by Presidents Bush and Obama), and chair of the National Research Council’s Committee on Hydrologic Science. Vörösmarty led a team of scientists that provided advice on sustainable infrastructure investments to the United Nation’s High-Level Panel on Water and delivered a briefing during the U.N. General Assembly in early 2023. He is currently working with the historic Roosevelt House at Hunter College to create a sustainability science-to-policy forum series with the foreign diplomatic community stationed in New York City. He now serves as a lead scientist on the international NASA-GLOBE citizen education effort.
“This great honor is born of the many productive collaborations I am fortunate to have experienced with students, colleagues and those outside the AGU sphere who are concerned about the future of the planet,” said Vörösmarty. “No researcher can address the scope of global climate change by themself, so this award is very much a product of team-based research and the very scientific collaboration AGU forwards as one of its key founding principles.”
Dr. Vörösmarty joins a distinguished group of scientists, leaders and communicators recognized by AGU for advancing science. Each honoree reflects AGU’s vision for a thriving, sustainable and equitable future supported by scientific discovery, innovation and action.
Honorees will be recognized at AGU24, which will convene more than 25,000 attendees from over 100 countries in Washington, D.C. and online everywhere on 9-13 December 2024. Reflecting the theme ‘What’s Next for Science’ at AGU24, the Honors Reception will recognize groundbreaking achievements that illustrate science’s continual advancement, inspiring the AGU community with their stories and successes.