2026 AGU ELECTIONS
Kasra Khodkar
AGU Council Student and Early Career Positions
Student Representative
Bio
Graduate Research Assistant, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, OK, 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.
I bring international and interdisciplinary perspectives shaped by my academic, cultural, and professional experiences. Born and raised in Tabriz, Iran, I have been influenced by both Turkic and Persian cultures. This multicultural environment allowed me to develop linguistic and cultural connections across a broad geography, from Central Asia to the Balkans, and to build relationships through shared language, history, and cultural understanding. My journey from Tabriz to Stillwater, Oklahoma, has given me firsthand experience adapting to new communities while sharing my own culture and learning from others.
I have intentionally engaged with diverse communities by helping organize Iranian cultural events, performing in an Indian Diwali celebration, and participating in Southern two-step dancing events across seven U.S. states. These experiences have strengthened my ability to connect across cultures and build meaningful personal and professional relationships.
I earned degrees in civil and environmental engineering and am a Ph.D. candidate in Biosystems Engineering at Oklahoma State University. My water resources research integrates technical approaches, including modeling, AI (artificial intelligence), and field monitoring, with stakeholder engagement involving farmers, managers, agencies, and policymakers to address water issues from local level to transboundary waters. I believe inclusive scientific leadership grows from listening, respect, and collaboration across diverse perspectives.
Volunteer experience that you feel relates to this position:
Graduate Student Member of Board of Directors and Conference Planning Team, University Council on Water Resources (2025–2026); co-organizer and presenter of professional development workshops at the 2026 conference. Student/Early Career Technical Session Convener, AGU25 Annual Meeting. Technical Session Co-Moderator, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 2024 Annual International Meeting. Vice President (2022–2023) and President (2023–2024), Oklahoma State University Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Graduate Student Association. Completed 60+ peer reviews for journals including Journal of Hydrology, Earth's Future, and Scientific Reports.
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? I value building communities where individuals can learn, contribute, and grow. I initiated and revitalized two scientific student associations at my undergraduate institution and reestablished the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Graduate Students Association at Oklahoma State University as the first student leaders in the post-pandemic era. I was dedicated to creating opportunities for professional development and community building. These organizations have remained active and continued to grow after my involvement, demonstrating the importance of empowering others to carry a mission forward. As a mentor, instructor, and community leader, I have worked to create environments where individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and needs can achieve their potential. This has included organizing engagement activities, promoting student well-being, providing diverse learning resources, and supporting academic and professional growth. During my graduate program, I have participated in K–12 recruitment activities and engaged with undergraduate students through events such as design competitions, sharing my experiences to help them make informed career decisions. Through the AccelNet: PEER2PEER International Convergence Research Networks in Transboundary Water Security project, I contributed to connecting networks of water managers, stakeholders, and scientists from around the world to exchange successful approaches for addressing transboundary water challenges and inspire broader adoption of effective strategies. I also intentionally advocate for constructive dialogue in polarized social and scientific environments. I believe polarization can prevent society and science from benefiting from diverse perspectives, while respectful discussions among different viewpoints can generate solutions. I stand for conversations grounded in curiosity, evidence, and mutual respect, where disagreement becomes an opportunity for learning rather than division.