Roles and Responsiblities
Section Presidents and Presidents-Elect serve on the AGU Council during their terms. In their role as AGU Council members, Section leaders work to advance the scientific direction of the Union as a whole. They bring a valuable perspective which, when taken collectively, represent the diversity of science that exists within
the Union. The Council partners with the AGU Board and staff to shape and lead AGU and geophysical sciences into the future.
Three Distinct Roles of Council
Under AGU’s governance structure, the Council was enlarged to include input from leaders representing a wider variety of members and charged with defining the role of the Council in advancing AGU’s strategic plan.
The Board is responsible for the overall health of the organization and handles the business affairs of AGU.
The Council is responsible for scientific affairs. As depicted in the governance structure diagram on page 53 of this document, many functions are shared between the Board and Council since they cut across both organizational/business and science – meetings, outreach, publications, strategic planning, etc.
The Council plays three unique and critical roles: forming science policy, generating and deliberating science-related
ideas, and advising on science and member issues. Examples of each of these roles are provided in three distinct roles diagram and in a sample Council agenda diagram.
Leadership Criteria for Council Members
The AGU Council helps advance AGU’s strategic plan by:
1. Formulating science policy
2. Generating ideas for aligning and strengthening AGU activities as science evolves
3. Advising on science and member issues
Council members have dual roles: leading AGU and leading subsets of AGU (committees, sections, student/early career members, etc.). These roles require that Council members dedicate themselves to be a conduit of information among AGU members. Equally, during Council discussions, Council members must be aware of their roles as leaders of AGU.
The following list of leadership criteria is intended to assist section leaders, committee/task force chairs, the Governance Committee, and the AGU President in identifying potential candidates for Council positions who can effectively fill dual roles. Identifying candidates who embody the following will help ensure an effective Council
and help continue to advance the mission and vision of AGU.
- Active, engaged, and inquisitive
- Objective and impartial
- Familiar with AGU’s strategic plan, governance model, culture, and ethics policy
- In tune with the AGU and Earth and space science community
- Good communicator (both presenting and listening)
- Open minded
- Well respected
- Team player
- Appreciates the dual roles of leader/representative of a discipline/committee/task force and leader of the entire AGU
- Values diversity
- Forward looking
- Willing to learn