By Vicki Zwart While the United States did not enter into World War II until 1941, the American Geophysical Union felt its distressing effects much earlier. The Union had been planning since 1936 for the first General Assembly on American soil of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). But the growing threat of war in Europe…
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AGU Meets the Computer Age, 1986
By Vicki Zwart The American Geophysical Union joined the computer age in 1986 when its electronic communications network Kosmos went online. It was established to provide alternative means for communication between and among AGU members and more importantly, according to Eos, Vol. 67, No. 39, “to begin establishing the means for AGU to deliver products electronically.” The first subscriber accounts were…
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From Transactions to JGR: AGU Early Publications
By Vicki Zwart The American Geophysical Union’s first publication – Transactions – was a catch-all during the early days of the society, publishing research papers, minutes from Executive Committee meetings, and news from the geophysics community on a bimonthly basis. It was not until the explosion of research during the International Geophysical Year in 1958 that the Union’s leadership realized their current format needed…
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Thriving Earth Exchange: Improving Local Air Quality in Granite City, IL
Granite City, IL: This 2015-2017 collaboration featured two parallel initiatives: collaboration with the Granite City Cool Cities Committee to finalize the city’s sustainability plan and complementary research projects to shed light on the sustainability commission’s air quality objectives. As a result of this project, the city’s sustainability plan focused on practical solutions and was implemented…
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Thriving Earth Exchange: Air Quality in Brandywine, MD, USA
Brandywine residents are concerned about their exposure to air pollution due to high levels of industrial activity in and around the community, including the operation of three large fossil-fuel powered power plants located within the community. Despite these emission sources, there are no state or federal air quality monitoring stations located downwind of these plants…
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Tong Zhu, Peking University
Tong Zhu atmospheric chemist and university professor shares his experiences studying air pollution and its impacts on human health. Reflecting on how past discoveries influence solutions and how those solutions impact government policy. He shares stories about his work for the Beijing Olympics and the international collaboration for PM 2.5.
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Steve Gahn, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
After a career of 30 years studying climate change, Steve Ghan embarks on another journey of steps to "Make Earth Cool Again" as he is recognized as Fellow of the American Geophysical Union during the AGU 2018 Fall Meeting. Listen to more of the stories behind the science here!
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The First Meeting
By Vicki Zwart When the first Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union was held in Washington, D.C., on 23 April 1920, the fledgling society had few members – just 65 - but plenty to talk about. Per “the Organization and Aims of the American Geophysical Union,” printed in Transactions, Vol. 4, Issue 1, the meetings were concerned…
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Scientists on the Hill
By Vicki Zwart For more than 40 years, the American Geophysical Union’s Congressional Science Fellows have helped influence and shape policy on Capitol Hill, working with leading members of Congress on legislation that significantly impacts the health and well-being of the country and its citizens. They are all highly-qualified and experienced scientists sharing their expertise…
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Special Sections
Special collections initiated by sections to leverage traditional publications in order to make an impact through Centennial are featured below. Hydrology A special collection "The Game Changers of Hydrology" will begin through WWR in 2019. Nonlinear Geophysics Nonlinear Systems in Geophysics: Past Accomplishments and Future Challenges is now open. Space Physics and Aeronomy Memoirs of…
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