Professor, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

I served on the AGU Earth and Space Science Informatics (ESSI) Program Committee for 2017-2020. This was a very complex but rewarding activity, bringing together sessions and coordinators and ensuring the program ran smoothly. As chair (2018-2019) I was also an active member of the ESSI Executive Committee; deputy president European Geosciences Union (EGU) ESSI (2020-2021); chair of the Funds for Women Graduates U.K. charity supporting women postgraduates, previously a trustee and grants committee chair and member since 2006; vice-president Quaternary Research Association (2019-2022).

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?

The Earth and Space Science Informatics section has always taken a positive stance in the promotion of the spirit of the AGU strategic plan, and as president I would continue to advance these aims. I will engage with section members to advance the plan by (1) ensuring that committee membership (including prizes and fellowships) reflects a culture based on excellence, integrity, respect, diversity and collaboration; (2) ensuring the Program Committee promotes the diversity of chairs and presenters; and (3) spreading the message to the section members via social media (including AGU Connect), email lists and updates at the Fall Meeting section events. As a Council member I will endeavor to push for diversity to be integrated into the society at all levels. I will continue to engage with leading international data organizations promoting FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) principles (e.g., Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP)), as well attempting to integrate these principals into AGU sections. I have experience of engaging with other sections through my role on the Program Committee, during which time ESSI promoted the very successful eLightning format. I will continue to encourage the important role ESSI plays in developing science education and outreach, including the joint ESSI/ESIP IgniteAGU! short talks, regular review and research articles in Eos, ESSI-led workshops and active liaison with the Education section. Many of the new technologies and data science ideas promoted by ESSI are used by geoscientists as a whole, and so it is vital these are encouraged within an inclusive, evidence-based science culture.

Section affiliations:
Cryosphere; Earth and Space Science Informatics