
James Van Allen Lecture
Information on the Lecture
The James Van Allen Lecture is presented two out of every three years to a space scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of magnetospheric science. It is named to honor the life and work of astrophysicist and space pioneer James A. Van Allen. The lecture is presented during the AGU Fall Meeting.
The Van Allen Lecture is also part of the Bowie Lecture Series, established in 1989 to commemorate the 50th presentation of the William Bowie medal, AGU’s highest honor.

Lecturer Benefits
AGU is proud to recognize our Space Physics and Aeronomy section honorees. Recipients of the James Van Allen Lecture will receive the following benefits along with the honor:
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Lecture certificate
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Recognition in Eos
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Recognition at the AGU Fall Meeting during the lecture presentation year
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An invitation to present the Van Allen Lecture at the AGU Fall Meeting during the lecture presentation year
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A complimentary ticket to the Space Physics and Aeronomy section dinner 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.
Nominee Eligibility
- The nominee is required to be an active AGU member.
- 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;
- Space Physics and Aeronomy section leadership;
- James Van Allen Lecture Committee members; and
- All full-time AGU staff
Nominator Eligibility
- Nominators are not required to hold an active AGU membership.
- Thesis/research advisors are eligible nominators.
- 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;
- Space Physics and Aeronomy section leadership;
- James Van Allen Lecture Committee members; and
- All full-time AGU staff.
Supporter Eligibility
- Individuals who write letters of support for the nominee are not required to be active AGU members.
- Supports may not be currently or recently associated with the nominee’s institution.
- 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;
- Space Physics and Aeronomy section leadership;
- James Van Allen Lecture Committee members; and
- All full-time AGU staff.
Relationships to a Nominee
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. Sections have the flexibility to adopt the process that will best serve their communities in seeking lecture recipients. For nomination requirements, please contact Christina Cohen, Space Physics and Aeronomy section president.

Submission process
Nominations for the James Van Allen Lecture are being accepted. For questions about nomination requirements or the submission process, please contact Therese Moretto, Space Physics and Aeronomy Section President.
Please click the link below if you have any questions for AGU Honors Staff.

Recipients

Mei-Ching Hannah Fok
Video

Robert L McPherron
Lecture Title
Solar Wind Coupling and Magnetospheric Substorms
Field Photo
Video

Fran Bagenal

Tamas I Gombosi

Michelle F Thomsen

Stamatios Mike Krimigis

Daniel N Baker

Bengt U O Sonnerup

Vytenis M Vasyliunas

Mary K Hudson

Louis J Lanzerotti

Goetz Paschmann

James L Burch

Atsuhiro Nishida

Margaret Kivelson

Donald A Gurnett

Gerhard Haerendel

Stanley W H Cowley

Charles F Kennel

George L Siscoe
