AGU Atmospheric Science Section

Atmospheric Sciences section members are concerned with climate change, atmospheric chemistry, dynamics, radiative transfer and other processes that affect the atmosphere. More than 15,000 of the AGU's 50,000 members are affiliated with Atmospheric Sciences and more than 6,200 identify Atmospheric Sciences as their primary section.

The Third Annual Atmospheric Sciences Chinese Banquet will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, during the 2008 AGU Fall Meeting.
The pre-registration deadline for the Fall Meeting is November 14. Please sign up for our banquet when you register.
As always, we will offer a discount for students and will have entertainment, as well as the presentation of the Holton Award.

Congratulations to Courtenay Strong, University of California Irvine!
2008 winner of the James R. Holton Junior Scientist Award
Please join us on December 16 for the award presentation
at the Atmospheric Sciences Banquet.

The Atmospheric Sciences Section of the American Geophysical Union is pleased to announce the establishment of a new Section Award for senior atmospheric scientists, the Yoram J. Kaufman Unselfish Cooperation in Research Award. This award is named in honor of Yoram J. Kaufman, an outstanding atmospheric scientist, mentor, and creator of international collaborations who worked on atmospheric aerosols and their influence on the Earth's climate for his entire 30-year career. Yoram was tragically killed in a bicycle accident just at the peak of his career at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He grew in the 1990s to be a leading light in aerosol research, both as an author of many new theoretical ideas and as a leader of field campaigns like SCAR-B. He also captained the first NASA Earth Observing System platform, Terra, as its Project Scientist. He advised and mentored a large number of students and junior scientists, and was known for his quick insight, great heart, deep wisdom, and outreach to national and international collaborators.

The AS Section will begin making the annual Kaufman Award starting at the Joint Assembly (Spring Meeting) in 2009. Please start now to think of worthy recipients. The citation will read: "The Yoram J. Kaufman Award for broad influence in atmospheric science through exceptional creativity, inspiration of younger scientists, mentoring, international collaborations, and unselfish cooperation in research."

To be eligible, the candidate must be a member of the AGU, and be at least ten years past the award of the Ph.D. (or equivalent). Members of the AS Section are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals. The nomination package, to be submitted before December 1, 2008, should consist of a nomination letter and the candidate’s curriculum vitae. The package should also include three letters of recommendation, at least one from a non-U.S. collaborator of the nominee. The nomination and supporting letters should clearly state how the nominated individual has exhibited the qualities noted in the citation. Details of the nomination process will be announced soon.