The AGU Statutes and Bylaws Committee was asked to examine the present system of AGU governance and organization, and to make recommendations for changes, if any seem warranted. Given the importance of this issue, the Statutes and Bylaws Committee is soliciting comments from the AGU membership on their conclusions about the consistency of the present AGU structure with the principles mentioned in their recent article.

As published in Eos.

AGU’s current position statement on data preservation and availability was first adopted in 1997. It has been reaffirmed several times, but it has not undergone a revision since its initial acceptance. A panel has been assembled to revise the statement. The panel is charged with addressing the full range of data issues that are affecting Earth and space scientists globally. AGU members are being asked to provide comments to be considered in updating this policy statement.

As published in Eos | Position statement | Procedures for Developing Union Positions

AGU’s current position statement on understanding climate was adopted in 2003. The charge to the panel that is considering an update to this position reiterates the need for consideration of the growing body of scientific evidence and asks that the panel include information that reflects the scientific progress that has occurred in the past 4 years on this subject. AGU members may provide comments for consideration by the panel via this online discussion.

As published in Eos | Position Statement | Procedures for Developing Union Positions

The panel considering updates to this position statement has been asked to review recent scientific progress in our understanding of natural hazards. The panel will also be considering evidence on how human activities may have made our society even more vulnerable to the impacts of natural hazards. AGU members are invited to provide comments to be considered in updating this policy statement.

As published in Eos | Position Statement | Procedures for Developing Union Positions

Since 1981 AGU has vigorously supported the teaching of evolution in the classroom and has opposed all efforts to require or promote teaching any religious tenet as science. Within this basic policy framework, AGU members are invited to provide comments that may be taken into consideration by the panel who is charged with providing an update of this position statement. Among other issues, the panel has been asked to reflect on the centrality of evolution and how it can be emphasized as a major unifying concept in the understanding of our planet.

As published in Eos | Position Statement | Procedures for Developing Union Positions

AGU has deliberately made the pages of Eos open to differing views. Two authors recently questioned whether AGU went too far in publishing a criticism by the Council of American Quaternary Society of the actions of another society. Should AGU have published the AMQUA criticism and the responses to it? What is your opinion?

As published in Eos.