Awards

Informatic’s Leptoukh Lecture

It is important for the advancement of the Union to promote a culture where we identify and support achievements in the computational and data sciences. In today’s world, issues of data management and analysis, large-scale computation and modeling, and hardware and software infrastructure affect each section of the AGU. The Informatics Section facilitates recognition of such achievements by working with the AGU to host a named lecture focused on advances in computational sciences, data sciences, and informatics that lead to, or enable, advances in science that are pertinent to the Union.

The goal of the Leptoukh Lecture is to recognize the awardee’s research, educational, or other accomplishments and the Union impact of his/her work. Prior advances in computation, instrumentation, and data handling facilitate many science advances within the Union. This lecture highlights the enabling capabilities of informatics as well as accomplishments of individual scientists. Thus, this lecture aims to raise awareness of the often-overlooked computational and data advances that enable breakthroughs in science, as well as foster exceptional individuals to make continued contributions in informatics and data science.

The Leptoukh Lecture is named in honor of the late Dr. Greg Leptoukh from NASA/GSFC. Greg was an Earth scientist who was very active in the informatics community. He was involved in many projects related to data quality and data provenance. Greg’s passing in January of 2012 was a loss to the Earth science and informatics communities.

Nomination process

Previous winners

Informatic's Outstanding Student Paper Awards

The Outstanding Student Paper Award (OSPA) program relies entirely on volunteer judges to provide constructive feedback to student presenters during the conference. Nearly 3,000 student presenters participate in OSPA each year. In 2017 ESSI had 30 students participate in the OSPA program.

Each year, Informatic's needs help to ensure all student presentations are evaluated and provided with feedback. It is recommended that each presentation have 3 judges. It only takes a small amount of your time to assess the students and input the evaluation, yet you will make a significant contribution to these Earth and space science students.

Process for Coordination & Judging

Previous Winners

Informatic's Eligible AGU Awards

Ambassador

Focus: None
Career Level: All
Membership Requirements: AGU member for at least the 3 previous years
Notes: Up to 5 recipients.
Five areas:

  • Societal Impact;
  • Service to the Earth & Space Community;
  • Scientific Leadership;
  • Promotion of career/talent pool

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Africa Earth & Ocean Science Award

Focus: African continent
Career Level: Early Career Scientist
Membership Requirements: Not Required
Notes: Citizen/permanent resident of country. Received PhD in last 10 years. Teacher/researcher at an African institution

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Africa Space

Focus: African continent
Career Level: Early Career Scientist
Membership Requirements: Not Required
Notes: Citizen/permanent resident of country in last 10 years. Teacher/researcher at an African institution

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Bowie Medal

Focus: Contribution to geophysics through research
Career Level: Senior scientist
Membership Requirements: Active AGU member
Notes: None

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Earth & Space Science Education

Focus: Educators/mentors who have had an impact at any level
Career Level: Mid-career to senior scientist
Membership Requirements: Not Required
Notes: Nominee can be individual, group or team

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Falkenberg

Focus: Use of data to improve society. Increasing awareness of data and understanding of our planet
Career Level: Early to mid-career
Membership Requirements: Not Required
Notes: Joint award with ESIP. should be less than 15 years since highest degree/ less than 45 years old

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Flinn

Focus: cooperation in research. Sustained supporting research including data management, repositories, networks .
Career Level: to senior scientist
Membership Requirements: Not Required
Notes: Individual or small group

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International

Focus: Furthering Earth Science research and supporting developing nations
Career Level: to senior scientist
Membership Requirements: Not Required
Notes: Individual or small group

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Kaula

Focus: Unselfish service to Union’s publications programmer
Career Level: Mid-career to senior scientist
Membership Requirements: Not Required
Notes: Individual

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Macelwane Medal

Focus: Outstanding contribution by an Early Career Scientist
Career Level: Early Career Scientist
Membership Requirements: Active AGU member
Notes: Up to 5 nominees

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Science for Solutions

Focus: Use of Earth sciences to solve societal problems
Career Level: Early Career Scientist
Membership Requirements: Active AGU member
Notes: Individual. Student of in 3 years

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Smith

Focus: Extraordinary contribution to geophysics/ unique leadership roles
Career Level: Senior scientist
Membership Requirements: Active AGU member
Notes: Biennial

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Spilhaus

Focus: Public engagement
Career Level: All
Membership Requirements: Active AGU member for at least the 2 previous years
Notes: None

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