Professor, Peking University, Beijing, China

AGU embraces the global community and welcomes leaders representing various identities, voices and perspectives. List any identities, voices and perspectives you would bring, including but not limited to nationality, regional representations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and anything else you feel comfortable sharing.

I believe science advances through collaboration and inspiration. While healthy competition can spark innovation, its current overemphasis leads to a stressful and sometimes toxic academic culture. I have been learning through the years of geoscience research, through my own progress, mistakes, and moments of uncertainty. These learning experiences have taught me that we move forward by being positive, inclusive, and open. Doing science is most rewarding when we lift each other up, not when we try to outshine one another. Together, we grow stronger.

As a scientist with extensive training in the U.S. and now based in China, I bring a distinct global perspective. I am eager to help build a stronger, bidirectional bridge between AGU and the rapidly growing research community in Asia. Alongside this, I carry the voice and concerns of early career researchers and students, as I myself have recently navigated early career transitions. I am committed to expanding opportunities for scientists across all borders and career stages.

I would be honored to contribute to a VGP section that remains connected and supportive, especially in a time of growing divides.

Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:

Member of the Hisashi Kuno Award committee (AGU Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology (VGP) section); Member of the Chinese Elemental Geochemistry Committee; Session convener: Goldschmidt (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024), China Youth Forum for Geosciences (2021), China Society for Mineralogy Petrology and Geochemistry (2021); Editorial board member/guest editor of Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Lithos, Acta Petrologica Sinica, National Science Review.

The section secretary role is determined by individual sections. If needed, the secretary might be asked to serve as an alternate to the president or president-elect at a Council meeting.

As part of the section leadership team, how will you work in partnership with your president, president-elect, other leaders, and staff to communicate with and engage your members to achieve AGU’s vision, values, mission, and goals?

If selected as secretary, I will work closely with the president, president-elect, other leaders, and staff to fulfill the section’s duties and support AGU’s broader missions. I will serve as an active, reliable link between the leadership and our diverse membership.

My primary focus will be on strengthening communication and inclusion, which directly support AGU’s goals to cultivate a collaborative and equitable scientific culture. I will work with the leadership team to ensure that the section strategies are shared transparently and community feedback is brought back. Critically, I will assist in fostering an environment where every member feels safe and encouraged to share their thoughts. To do so, I will engage with geochemistry researchers at all career levels and from various regions to understand their concerns and expectations. This can happen through targeted outreach and discussions at major meetings like those of AGU and Goldschmidt.

As a scientist based in China, I have direct access to academic conferences and networks in China and across Asia. These research communities are making immense contributions to geochemistry, yet their voices are often underrepresented in global forums. I am committed to actively conveying their important perspectives to AGU, bringing AGU’s initiatives and opportunities closer to them, and helping expand AGU’s global talent pool.

Ultimately, by making our section more connected, representative, and responsive, I hope to help advance AGU’s mission to inspire an inclusive Earth and space science community for the benefit of humanity.