Citation

It has been a true pleasure to observe the remarkable scientific career of Prof. Chiyuan Miao from his graduate student days to the present. Chiyuan has been a rising star in the field of hydroclimatology and notably by bridging traditional hydrological science and the emerging global climate change science to address critical water resource issues in China and across the world. What makes Chiyuan stand out as a hydroclimate scientist is his devotion to seeking answers to some fundamental questions, such as (1) whether the current hydroclimatological data sets are reliable for answering critical questions water resources system operators and decisionmakers are confronted with every day, (2) how hydroclimatological variables respond to historical global environmental change, and (3) how hydroclimatological processes will change in the context of future global environmental change. Dr. Miao has conducted a series of systematic studies to examine the accuracy and uncertainty of hydroclimatological data sets in China and many other regions of the world. To this end, he has constructed a high-resolution hydroclimatological data set by applying the merging technique to multisource data sets, which lays the foundation for understanding environmental change and its impact. Chiyuan has developed innovative methods (e.g., automatic optimization, parameter regionalization, adaptive surrogate modeling) to simulate the hydrological processes within a finer spatial resolution. His work has played an important role in the development of national water conservancy projects across China and beyond in responding to ongoing environmental change around the world. He has broadened his research direction to unravel the quantitative contributions of natural forces and human activities to future environment change and the resulting hydrometeorological responses, a right step in helping the development of strategies for energy conservation and emissions reductions, especially in China. Dr. Miao has also been playing an active role in the Earth sciences community and professional societies including AGU. He was selected as cochair of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation Youth Committee and is now serving as an editor for the AGU journal GeoHealth. He is a very active member of several professional societies in China, such as the Hydrogeography section of the Geographical Society of China, the Resources Ecosystem section of the Chinese Natural Resources Society, and the Geography Youth Forum. My congratulations to Dr. Miao for receiving the 2022 Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award from AGU. —Soroosh Sorooshian, University of California, Irvine

Response

It is the honor of my lifetime to be recognized by the AGU community and to receive the Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award. The global environmental changes we are experiencing have brought great hydroclimatological challenges to mankind, and the related research will help us to make appropriate responses. I have been so fortunate to work on and benefit from this fascinating science. Thank you very much, Prof. Sorooshian, for your kind nomination! I clearly remember that when I was working at the University of California, Irvine Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing (UCI CHRS) as a visiting scholar, Soroosh asked me every day when we met, “Hi, Miao, what’s new?” To be honest, I usually felt nervous because there were still several bugs in my codes yesterday. Now I can be very proud to answer, “I got an award from AGU!” Thanks, Soroosh, for continuously encouraging me to explore the new, as well as for your persistent support for my career. I really enjoyed my time at UCI CHRS and deeply appreciate all my collaborators there, including but not limited to Amir AghaKouchak, Kuo-lin Hsu, Hamed Ashouri, Phu Nguyen, Nasrin Nasrollahi, and Tiantian Yang. I would not be where I am today without the support of my mentors, colleagues, and collaborators. My deepest gratitude goes to my Ph.D. adviser, Baoyuan Liu, who led me to hydrological science and I, for the first time, experienced the charm of scientific research. I was incredibly lucky to work with Jinren Ni as a postdoctoral fellow. I learned the precious qualities of persistence, independence, and self-confidence in research from his words and deeds. Joining Qingyun Duan’s group at Beijing Normal University as a faculty member was a life-changing and exciting experience. Qingyun guided me to the field of hydroclimatology, which I am determined to devote my life to, and always gives me valuable advice on my research and career whenever I need it. I am also indebted to my current and former graduate students and postdocs, who have been so inspiring to work with. I appreciate their hard work and dedication with all my heart. It is a great pleasure of mine to work with them, and I’m here to receive this award also on their behalf. Finally, my gratitude also goes to my wife, Yang Yang, my children, Keyan and Zhiyang, and my parents for their tremendous support and encouragement. Without them, my life would be far less meaningful. —Chiyuan Miao, Beijing Normal University, Beijing

Citation

Dr. Rodrigo Vargas has made significant contributions to the developing field of environmental cyberinfrastructure and global environmental change. Indeed, he helped to pioneer the use of time series analysis to study soil carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes, one of the major pathways in the global carbon cycle. Rodrigo’s background in ecology and carbon cycle biogeochemistry, and his fundamental contributions to the use of environmental sensor networks and sensor technology related to climate change research, along with his extensive analytical skill set, have made him an international leader in the impacts of climate change on ecosystem carbon budgets. This is clearly demonstrated by his recent recognition as a Highly Cited Researcher by the Web of Science. Furthermore, he contributes to policy-relevant research through participation in international climate assessments. Finally, Rodrigo is deeply committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Surprisingly, he is the only Hispanic faculty member in the past 150 years in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware, where he was recently promoted to the rank of professor. In this role he has strongly advocated for the needs of the Latinx community for which he has been awarded the Latino/Hispanic Heritage Impact Award and the Mentorship/Advancement Award for Latino/Hispanic Graduate Students. Finally, Rodrigo is an active member of the AGU community serving as an associate editor for the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences among many other activities. —Scott Collins, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

Response

It has been a privilege and an honor to have had the opportunity to work on scientific, educational, and social endeavors in global environmental change. It is an honor to receive the 2022 Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award. Piers Sellers’s work and leadership have touched and influenced many scientists, and his legacy will continue to be remembered in the years to come. It is amazing to be among the prestigious list of previous awardees. I am deeply grateful to Scott Collins for nominating me and believing in me since I was a graduate student. Thank you, Scott! My career as a scientist would not have been possible without the support of many mentors, colleagues, students, and friends. My first mentor as an undergraduate was Eberto Novelo, who introduced me to the study of biogeochemical cycles. I thank my Ph.D. adviser, Michael Allen, who gave me the freedom to pursue my interests and taught me about soil-plant-atmosphere interactions. Then, my postdoc adviser, Dennis Baldocchi, taught me about eddy covariance, the importance of synthesis of information, and the power of global environmental networks. I am also grateful for the opportunity to be a member of FLUXNET, AmeriFlux, MexFlux, and the North American Carbon Program communities. I have had the privilege to work with fantastic students, early-career scientists, and colleagues around the world with whom I share this honor. This recognition means a lot to me as a member of the Latinx/Hispanic community of AGU. With this visibility comes great responsibility. I am inspired to continue to support members of historically marginalized populations so they can thrive, lead, and advance scientific endeavors related to global environmental change. I am thankful to Scott, my mentors, colleagues, students, and friends who have been with me throughout my career. I am grateful for all the love and support from my family. I thank the Global Environmental Change section for honoring me with the 2022 Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award. —Rodrigo Vargas, University of Delaware, Newark

Katherine Calvin received the Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award at AGU’s Fall Meeting 2019, held 9–13 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes a scientist or team of midcareer scientists “for outstanding contributions in research, educational, or societal impacts in the area of global environmental change, especially through interdisciplinary approaches.”

 

Citation

Dr. Katherine Calvin has made outstanding research contributions in the area of global environmental change. Dr. Calvin’s research focuses on the interactions between human socioeconomic activity and Earth system changes. She has worked extensively in developing international scenarios for climate change research and is a leading expert in integrated assessment modeling, combining quantitative and coding expertise with broad training across Earth sciences, socioeconomics, and land use change.

Dr. Calvin’s scientific findings have been used and cited by all three working groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Her expertise has led to international recognition and community involvement as a contributing author to the IPCC Working Group III Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), lead author for the Working Group III AR6, and the coordinating lead author for the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land. The IPCC reports span sectors and national boundaries to provide the scientific information and basis for understanding climate change and its impacts on natural and human systems and for informing pathways to mitigate and adapt to those changes. Kate’s diverse background and skills make her an ideal person to lead these efforts. Dr. Calvin is also the biogeochemistry group lead for the Department of Energy’s Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM), coordinating model development and interacting with the other modeling groups to ensure seamless coupling and performance. With her outstanding career thus far, we look forward to the next decade of exceptional research from Dr. Calvin.

—Corinne Hartin and Ben Bond-Lamberty, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, College Park, Md.

Response

I am humbled and honored to receive the Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award this year. I had the pleasure of hearing Piers Sellers talk a few times and always found his stories of carbon and space travel inspiring. I’m also honored to be the third awardee, following the amazing Jim Randerson and Markus Reichstein. Thank you, Corinne, for nominating me!

Several people have helped mentor me and shaped my career. First, I’d like to thank my Ph.D. advisor, John Weyant, for introducing me to climate change and teaching me how to do research. The breadth of John’s knowledge and the encouragement he provides his students had a tremendous influence on me, in terms of both my field of study and the way I engage with others. Next, I’d like to thank Jae Edmonds and Leon Clarke for hiring me and teaching me about integrated assessment. The opportunities Jae and Leon gave me as an early-career researcher, from coordinating model intercomparison projects to working on next-generation emissions scenarios, helped me hone my technical skills and introduced me to leadership. I’d like to thank Tony Janetos for teaching me about land and the Earth system and steering me toward more interdisciplinary research; I will always be grateful for the chats I had with him on agriculture and the Global Change Assessment Model, and sports. Last, I’d like to thank all of the colleagues, collaborators, and coauthors with whom I’ve interacted over the years. I couldn’t have done the research I have, and certainly wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much, without them. I hope that I can provide as much to the Global Environmental Change community as it has provided to me.

—Katherine Calvin, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, College Park, Md.

Markus Reichstein will receive the 2018 Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award at AGU’s Fall Meeting 2018, to be held 10–14 December in Washington, D. C. The award recognizes a scientist or team of midcareer scientists “for outstanding contributions in research, educational, or societal impacts in the area of global environmental change, especially through interdisciplinary approaches.”

 

Citation

Markus Reichstein epitomizes the spirit, vision, and creativity of Piers Sellers more than any of the up-and-coming and qualified scientists in the world. Markus’s research focuses on the interactions between the terrestrial biosphere and the climate system by studying the response of vegetation, soils, and whole ecosystems to climate variability from local to global scales. Like Piers Sellers, his vision includes combining data-driven and system-oriented process-driven approaches. Research being conducting by Reichstein and his group is fulfilling our community’s, and Piers’s, dream of producing a data system that views the breathing of the Earth “everywhere and all of the time.”

Reichstein and his group have accomplished this monumental task by merging direct measurements of carbon fluxes from the continuous, long-term, but sparse, network of flux towers in the FLUXNET network with the spatially explicit, but inferred and intermittent, information produced by a constellation of satellites sensing the surface and by gap-filling in time and space with neural network and regression tree machine learning tools. This has led to the first direct data-driven estimates of global photosynthesis and evapotranspiration. In addition, and very complementary, he has been successfully pushing forward the development of soil concepts and models from a “dead soil” to a “living soil” paradigm for biogeochemical dynamics, which acknowledges the interactions between soil organic matter, soil microbes, and the soil matrix together with transport processes and abiotic factors.

He has also been leading several international research activities, such as a data-driven climate ecosystem model comparison study called FLUXCOM; the European CarboExtreme project, which examined how ecosystems are responding to extreme climate conditions; and global community efforts such as Extreme Events and Environments—from climate to society within Future Earth. Throughout his career he has also offered open services and data products to the research community. So, still in his relatively young career, Markus has already been broadly stimulating the scientific global environmental community and numerous early-career scientists just as Piers Sellers did during his active time.

—Dennis Baldocchi, University of California, Berkeley

Response

Receiving this Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award is truly humbling, because even from a distance, Piers Sellers has been a scientific idol during my graduate studies. It is even more humbling being the second awardee after Jim Randerson, who also continues to inspire a lot of my thinking about global environmental change (GEC) research. Dennis, thanks a lot for having considered me here.

I would like to thank very much several mentors for being so crucial in my scientific development. It starts with Dr. Gabriele Broll, who during undergraduate studies and my diploma thesis taught me everything about soil and about scientific scrutiny, which I believe today is more important than ever. Then a truly inceptive experience has been the Hyytiälä Euroflux meeting in 1998, organized by Timo Vesala, where I had the chance to discuss my Ph.D. plans with Dennis Baldocchi, Riccardo Valentini, and my advisor John Tenhunen, who gave very complementary and inspiring perspectives on biosphere–atmosphere interactions. I vividly remember Dennis’s keynote lecture that so greatly transported the excitement about the richness of information contained in eddy covariance flux data. Then Steve Running, during my short-term research stay in Missoula in 2002 related to the NASA MODIS mission, “opened my eyes” to the global scale and the value of remote sensing for GEC science. Also, the informal and pure-science-driven attitude—maybe also typical for the AGU GEC community—has always made it a pleasure to interact. These stimulating interactions only became more intensive in almost regular follow-up visits in Baldocchi’s and Running’s labs in Berkeley and Missoula. In summary, I am grateful for all the support I have received by these individuals and AGU, in general, and hope I can pay back in many ways for the rapidly evolving GEC sciences.

—Markus Reichstein, Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany

James Randerson is the inaugural honoree of the Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award of the American Geophysical Union’s Global Environmental Change focus group. He will receive the award at the 2017 AGU Fall Meeting, to be held 11–15 December in New Orleans, La. The award recognizes a scientist or team of midcareer scientists “for outstanding contributions in research, educational, or societal impacts in the area of global environmental change, especially through interdisciplinary approaches.”

 

Citation

Jim Randerson is the perfect candidate for the Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award. Over the nearly 20 years between completing his Ph.D. at Stanford to his current position as Chancellor’s Professor of Earth System Science at UC Irvine, Jim’s professional ascent and scientific contributions have been nothing short of phenomenal, not unlike those of Piers in the period between completing his Ph.D. and entering the NASA astronaut program.

Jim’s research focuses on the interactions between the terrestrial biosphere and Earth’s climate system, investigating the effects of climate on ecosystems and also the feedbacks of terrestrial ecosystems on global and regional climate as mediated by processes such as disturbance, albedo, and carbon dioxide exchange. The breadth of his research ranges from fine-scale controls on wildfire in southern California, Alaska, and Brazil, to continental-scale patterns of wildfire emissions as radiative forcings on climate and energy budgets, to global models and syntheses of the Earth’s terrestrial carbon exchange.

He is prolific, influential, and broadly engaged in a range of interdisciplinary Earth system science research endeavors around the world. He has accomplished this through the excellence of his own research as well as an extensive set of collaborations with the very best scientists working to understand and quantify the changing biosphere. This is very much like Piers’s legacy in bringing together a broad team of top-notch scientists to rapidly advance interdisciplinary research of the Earth system in the 1980s and 1990s. Also like Piers, Jim has been a mentor to many students and early-career scientists who have gone on to excel in their own careers.

Having had the good fortune and pleasure to work with Piers, I am certain he would be pleased to have an award in his name being conferred upon Jim.

—Scott Goetz, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff

Response

Thank you, Scott, for the generous citation! This award means a lot to me because I knew Piers—he served as a role model when I was starting out as a young scientist. I was fortunate to work first as a graduate student and then as a postdoc during the 1990s as a part of a NASA Interdisciplinary Science project that Piers co-led. The experience was amazing. Every 6 months, like clockwork, our team would assemble and review progress toward our goal of building a new generation of biosphere models. For the students and postdoctoral scholars participating in this project, these meetings were simultaneously intimidating and inspiring. Feedback on new ideas was swift, sometimes requiring soul searching, and often punctuated by Piers’s sharp wit. Listening from the back of the room, we were witness to Piers and his friends defining a new field of global ecology. He pushed us to be our best through a singular combination of brilliance, humor, and passion. There are many of us who emerged from this ecosystem, now hoping to carry on in his footsteps and drawing inspiration from his editorial last year in the New York Times. When I look back at the transformative impact of Terra and other satellites in NASA’s Earth Observing System, I view this achievement as a tribute to Piers and his colleagues inside and outside of NASA who changed the way we view the biosphere on Earth.

With every passing day, I feel more and more fortunate to have a career as a scientist. I am indebted to Chris Field for his careful mentorship as my Ph.D. advisor, and to my postdoc mentors Inez Fung and Terry Chapin for providing further guidance. I am lucky to work with wonderful colleagues at UC Irvine. I share this honor with them, and with the exceptional students and early-career scientists I have had the privilege of working with. My family makes all of this worthwhile, and I thank Kathleen, Kate, and John for their love and support!

—James Randerson, University of California, Irvine