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Horton Medal Committee
2010–2012 term
Chair
Guenter Bloeschl, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
Members
Tissa Illangasekare, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
Michael Kirby, University of Leeds, Leeds, Great Britain
Karen Prestegaard, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
Bridget Scanlon, University of Texas Austin, Austin, Texas
Thorsten Wagener, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
Staff Liaisons
Beth Paredes
This medal was established in 1974 in honor of Robert E. Horton's contributions to the study of the hydrologic cycle. Walter B. Langbein was the first recipient of this medal, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the geophysical aspects of hydrology. The Horton Medal is given not more often than annually.
Robert Elmer Horton is rightfully deemed the father of modern hydrology. During his 50-year career, in more than 100 papers, discussions, and reports, he contributed precisely those essential analytical concepts, with confirming experimental evidence, that resulted in our present understanding of the complex rainfall-runoff relationship.
Committee Charge
- Select the recipient of the Horton Medal; the final decision is subject for approval of the Executive Committee.
- Interpret the scope of the award broadly and to keep in mind that as a Union medal, it should reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the Earth and space sciences.
- Be especially mindful of the diversity of the community of individuals encompassed by AGU.
- Do not depend solely on unsolicited nominations but should be proactive by encouraging nominations through committee member contacts.
- State, as part of their recommendation to the Executive Committee, the number of candidates considered, how many of these were holdovers and how many were new, and whether the new candidates were nominations from general call or were actively encouraged by the committee.
- Define the process used for reaching the decision.
Work Plan for 2010–2012
In addition to selecting Horton Medalists,
- Review data from Horton Medal's selection processes for the past several years to determine if the program is operating maximally in terms of the relevant goals of the Union's strategic plan.
- Work with Section and Focus Group committees to increase the number of nominations of viable candidates in underrepresented groups so that newly elected medalists reflect the diversity of the Union membership; and
- Work with the Meetings and Honors and Recognition Committees to review formats for the award ceremonies at AGU meetings and to recommend revisions to award ceremony formats as necessary.
–July 2010