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CARL SAGAN LECTURE

Information on the lecture

The Carl Sagan Lecture is presented annually and recognizes a scientist who embodies Carl Sagan’s interest in astrobiology, as well as his effective science communication skills. This lecture honors the life of Carl Sagan, an astronomer and astrophysicist who was a leader in establishing the field of astrobiology. Sagan was also a tireless educator, author, and advocate for the space sciences.

The Sagan Lecture is presented at the AGU Fall Meeting. During even-numbered years, the Biogeosciences section manages the lecture and in odd-numbered years, the Planetary Sciences section sponsors the lecture.

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Lecturer benefits

AGU is proud to recognize our section honorees. Recipients of the Carl Sagan 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
    Complimentary meeting registration and an invitation to present the Sagan Lecture at the AGU Fall Meeting during the lecture presentation year
  • 5
    Complimentary ticket to the hosting section’s ticketed event at the AGU Fall Meeting during the lecture presentation year

Eligibility

To better understand eligibility for nominators, supporters and Sagan Lecture 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 Biogeosciences and Planetary Science section leadership
    • AGU President;
    • AGU President-elect;
    • Council Leadership Team members;
    • Honors and Recognition Committee members;
    • Sagan Lecture Committee members; and
    • All full-time AGU staff.

  • Members of the general public can submit nominations for the Sagan 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 Biogeosciences and Planetary Sciences section leadership
    • AGU President;
    • AGU President-elect;
    • Council Leadership Team members;
    • Honors and Recognition Committee members;
    • Sagan Lecture Committee members; and
    • All full-time AGU staff.

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

  • The following relationships need to be identified and communicated to the Award 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 award 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.

Nomination package

Named section lectures are not required to follow a nomination cycle process (i.e. submit a nomination package). Sections have the flexibility to adopt the process that will best serve their communities in seeking lecture recipients.

The Carl Sagan Lecture does not have a formal nomination process, the awarded lecturer is instead elected based on suggested names submitted to section leadership. For questions about nomination requirements or the submission process, please contact Paul Byrne, Planetary Sciences Section President.

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Submissions

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

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Recipients

Ariel D Anbar

2022

Video

Video

Penelope Jane Boston

2019

Ken Caldeira

2018

Jonathan I Lunine

2017

Nathalie A Cabrol

2016

John Asher Johnson

2015

Dawn Y Sumner

2014

Honors Contacts

AGU Staff Headshot Rosa Maymi

Rosa Maymi

Director, Engagement and Membership

202-777-7322 | [email protected]

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Leah Bland

Manager, Honors

202-777-7389 | [email protected]

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Hannah Hoffman

Program Manager, Fellows

[email protected]