2026 AGU ELECTIONS
Eliott Foust
AGU Council Student and Early Career Positions
Early Career Scientist
Bio
Glenadore and Howard L. Pim Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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.
It is my view that some of the most valuable skills scientists develop are gained outside traditional academic training, and bringing them into the research process produces stronger science and stronger relationships within society.
I have adopted this view through my atypical pathway into research. Before I returned to graduate school, I worked as a photojournalist, business owner, and educator. Through these positions, I met a wide variety of people, and I was invited into countless homes. This helped me to develop a listening ear, an appreciation of how trust develops through sustained relationships, and how deeply environmental and societal challenges are interconnected.
Those experiences fundamentally shaped how I approach research. Through transdisciplinary research training and working directly with local communities during my doctoral work, I learned to combine scientific rigor with the communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills that I developed outside of graduate school.
Overall, this pathway has led me to advocate for scientists bringing their full range of experiences
Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:
My volunteer service centers on leadership, mentorship, and community engagement. I currently serve with the Young Professionals of Color–Greater Harrisburg, where I have led committees, organized citywide civic events, and developed tools that improve access to civic information. I also volunteered from 2015-2020 with Street Fraternity, mentoring young men and supporting refugee families in Denver.
Q&A
The AGU Council is a diverse forum of perspectives that meets throughout the year to provide input to the AGU Board, staff, and other parts of the organization. Three communities within the Council—committee chairs, section leaders, and students and early career scientists—serve different roles in AGU and bring unique viewpoints to ongoing discussions.
The Council has up to 12 positions for student and early career members. The student and early career voices on the Council are critical to the future of Earth and space sciences. How have you taken intentional action to inspire others to advance a cause, mission, or goal? As an African American employee at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), I experienced firsthand how informal networks provided mentorship and support for many employees, students, and visitors. As these conversations grew in scope, it became clear that we needed to ensure that this form of support did not depend on informal conversations, but was integrated into the institution. Seeing this need, I worked with others to pursue this goal by spearheading the effort to establish NCAR’s first employee resource group. In doing so, it was imperative to listen to the community, identify priorities, and devise actionable steps to achieving goals. It was equally important to align the group’s goals with NCAR’s strategic goals and demonstrate how investing in employees strengthens the organization as a whole. The employee resource group was officially recognized and developed into a group that supports professional growth, mentoring, and community within the organization. By being the first group, we established a framework so other groups could form. The collection of groups reduced the dependence on individuals being present, and embeds employee support within the organization, and increases morale and retention.