Sunrise over grand canyon with river

William Bowie Lecture

Information on the Lecture

The William Bowie Lecture is presented annually and recognizes significant contributions to the fundamentals of geophysics, as well as unselfish cooperation in research. It is presented by invitation only and is named to honor the life and work of William Bowie, a geodetic engineer who also served as AGU’s first president.

The Bowie Lecture is part of the Bowie Lecture Series, established in 1989 to commemorate the 50th presentation of the William Bowie medal, AGU's highest honor. Section lectures established in honor of a past Bowie medalist are part of the Bowie Lecture series.

This lecture is the premier scientific activity of the Geodesy section during the AGU Fall Meeting.

view from a plane of an arid mountain scape

Lecturer Benefits

AGU is proud to recognize our section honorees. Recipients of the William Bowie Lecture will receive the following benefits with the honor:
  • 1
    Lecture certificate
  • 2
    Recognition in Eos
  • 3
    Recognition at the AGU Fall Meeting during the lecture presentation year
  • 4
    An invitation to present the Bowie Lecture at the AGU Fall Meeting during the lecture presentation year
  • 5
    Complimentary ticket to the Geodesy section event at the AGU Fall Meeting during the lecture presentation year

Eligibility

To better understand eligibility for nominators, supporters and committee members, review AGU’s Honors Conflict of Interest Policy.

  • The nominee is required to be an active AGU member.
  • Self-nominations are not accepted.
  • The following individuals are not eligible to be candidates for the award during their terms of service:
    • AGU President;
    • AGU President-elect;
    • Council Leadership Team members;
    • Honors and Recognition Committee members;
    • Bowie Lecture Committee members; and
    • All full-time AGU staff

  • Members of the general public can submit nominations for the Bowie Lecture
  • Multiple nominators for a single candidate are encouraged to collaborate on the nomination package.
  • The following individuals are not eligible to be nominators for the award during their terms of service:
    • AGU President;
    • AGU President-elect;
    • Council Leadership Team members;
    • Honors and Recognition Committee members;
    • Bowie Lecture Committee members; and
    • All full-time AGU staff

  • Members of the general public can write letters supporting nominees for the Bowie Lecture.
  • The following individuals are not eligible to be supporters for the award during their terms of service:
    • AGU President;
    • AGU President-elect;
    • Council Leadership Team members;
    • Honors and Recognition Committee members;
    • Bowie Lecture Committee members; and
    • All full-time AGU staff

  • The following relationships need to be identified and communicated to the Lecture Committee but will not disqualify individuals from participating in the nomination or committee review process. These apply to committee members, nominators, and supporters:
    • Current dean, departmental chair, supervisor, supervisee, laboratory director, an individual with whom one has a current business or financial relationship (e.g., business partner, employer, employee);
    • Research collaborator or co-author within the last three years; and/or
    • An individual working at the same institution or having accepted a position at the same institution.
  • Individuals with the following relationships are disqualified from participating in the lecture nomination process as a nominator or supporter:
    • Family member, spouse, or partner.
    • A previous graduate (Master’s or Ph.D.) and/or postdoctoral advisor, or postdoctoral fellow may not write a nomination letter but may write a supporting letter after five years of terminating their relationship with the nominee beginning on 1 January after the year the relationship was terminated.
    • A former doctoral or graduate student, or a former postdoctoral fellow may not write a nomination letter for a former advisor but may write a supporting letter after five years of terminating their relationship with the nominee beginning on 1 January after the year the relationship was terminated.

Submissions

The 2023 nomination cycle will open on 18 January. Check back to submit a nomination. 

Email Staff
Evergreen trees with mountains in background

Recipients

Bridget R Scanlon

2022

Video

Lecture Title:

Geodetic Clues in Planetary Treasure Hunts

Video

Veronique M A Dehant

2019

Byron D Tapley

2018

Tonie M van Dam

2017

Mark Simons

2016

Daniel Dzurisin

2015

Jerry X Mitrovica

2014

Don P Chambers

2013

Reinhard F Rummel

2012

Kosuke Heki

2011

Gerald W Bawden

2010

Jeffrey Todd Freymueller

2009

Eric J Rignot

2008

Kristine M Larson

2007

Richard D Ray

2006

R Steven Nerem

2005

Michael M Watkins

2004

Herb Dragert

2003

Gilles Peltzer

2002

James L Davis

2000

Anny A Cazenave

1999

David E Smith

1998

Jean-Bernard Honore Minster

1997

David T Sandwell

1995

John M Wahr

1994

Jean O Dickey

1993

Richard H Rapp

1992

Irwin I Shapiro

1990

Thomas Herring

1988

Honors Contacts

AGU Staff Headshot Rosa Maymi

Rosa Maymi

Director, Engagement and Membership

202-777-7322 | [email protected]

Graphic silhouette of a person

Leah Bland

Manager, Honors

202-777-7389 | [email protected]

Graphic silhouette of a person

Hannah Hoffman

Program Manager, Fellows

[email protected]