Awards

AGU has a diverse program for recognizing members and others who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the geophysical sciences, to the service of the community, and to the public's understanding.

The highest honor in the section is the Whipple award and lecture. The Whipple Award was established in 1989 to honor an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the field of planetary science. The award is named after Fred Whipple, a gifted astronomer most noted for his work on comets. Whipple was elected an AGU Fellow in 1962 and the Section's first Whipple Award honoree in 1990. Past Honorees span the breadth and depth of the Planetary Sciences section. Nomination Packages must include a nomination letter, CV and 3 letters of support submitted by the timeline on the AGU Awards page.

The Eugene Shoemaker Lecture is presented annually and recognizes excellence in planetary exploration. This lecture honors the life and work of this eminent planetary scientist and geologist. The Shoemaker Lecture is also a part of the Bowie Lecture Series, established in 1989 to commemorate the 50th presentation of the William Bowie medal, AGU's highest honor. The Bowie medal is named in honor of AGU's first president and Shoemaker received the Bowie medal in 1996. Past Recipients represent missions, instruments, and science teams that have fundamentally advanced our knowledge of the solar system. Nomination Packages must include a nomination letter, CV and one letter of support and should be submitted through the AGU portal.

The Ronald Greeley Early Career Award is presented annually and recognizes significant early-career contributions to planetary science from honorees within six years of receiving their Ph.D. Established in 2012, this award is named in honor of AGU Fellow Ronald Greeley for his influential contributions in both training and mentoring planetary scientists. The award includes a cash prize and complimentary meeting registration for the year of the award. Nomination Packages must include a nomination letter, CV, and 3 letters of support submitted by the timeline on the AGU Awards page. Past Recipients represent a group of outstanding early career scientists.

The Planetary Science section shares the Carl Sagan Lecture with the Biogeosciences section, alternating years for selection. The Carl Sagan Lecture is presented annually and recognizes a scientist who embodies Carl Sagan’s interest in astrobiology, as well as his effective science communication skills. This lecture honors the life of Carl Sagan, an astronomer and astrophysicist who was a leader in establishing the field of astrobiology. Sagan was also a tireless educator, author, and advocate for the space sciences. The Carl Sagan Lecture does not have a formal nomination process, but a brief letter of nomination and a CV for the candidate should be submitted to the selecting section president.