William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Geophysics and Dean of Research for Arts, Science and Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

I view my Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems service (guest editor, 2003-2004; editor, 2005-2008; senior editor, 2009) as especially rewarding in advancing the journal with my fellow editors and solidifying successful Geomagnetism, Paleomagnetism and Electromagnetism (GPE) themes. I’ve also served on the GP(E) Executive (1996-2002) and Fleming Medal (2010-2012; 2015-2017) committees. I also chaired the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Dynamics of Earth’s Interior evaluation committee (1997-1999), served on Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) science panels (2012-2013; 2015-2017) and chaired the Institute for Rock Magnetism review and advisory committee (2006-2010).

Council members play critical roles as communication conduits among AGU members and leaders. How will you engage with members of your section to advance AGU’s new strategic plan? How might you facilitate engagement with other sections and people outside AGU to support our mission?

We are in momentous times. Amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, omnipresent racism has surfaced in the form of tragedies that reveal how much work is yet to be done to address injustice and attain the basic goal of equal treatment without regard to race, color or national origin. I am reminded of a basic request of students during a protest. They simply wanted mentors that looked like them. GPE can help face this need for societal change. We can advance the involvement of all underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) because of the myriad opportunities for outreach associated with the vast applications inherent to our discipline. All STEM is local in the sense that a lasting foundation for a more diverse future can only be built in the classroom. GPE has been the home to leaders in this area, from the Geophysical Information for Teachers initiative to individual research project sponsorship. These activities naturally engage other sections and meet the AGU strategic plan goal to promote an inclusive scientific culture; they must be continued, promoted and expanded. We must accept that our work needs to be sustained and will by necessity span multiple generations. Only in this way can we hope to meet the aspirational goal of exemplifying a truly diverse scientific culture.

Section affiliations:

Geomagnetism, Paleomagnetism and Electromagnetism; Ocean Sciences; Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology; Planetary Sciences; Seismology; Space Physics and Aeronomy; Study of the Earth's Deep Interior; Tectonophysics