Anja Schmidt is one of a very small number of scientists who have successfully and convincingly established a career at the boundaries between volcanology, atmospheric science and geohazards. Although trained as a geologist, she has published a series of innovative and influential papers on the atmospheric impacts of volcanic eruptions. While still a Ph.D. student, she stimulated collaboration between volcanologists, atmospheric scientists and an epidemiologist. Her papers span the impacts of eruptions on air quality, aircraft hazards and current and ancient climates. Dr. Schmidt is dedicated to the wide dissemination of knowledge, recognizing that volcanology is of high interest to the public, governments and other agencies. She has used her knowledge and enthusiasm to give many public talks. Her codevelopment of a smartphone app on volcanic eruptions further reflects her dedication to the public understanding of science. Unusually for such an early-career researcher, Anja Schmidt has already used her expertise to advise the U.K. government at the highest level on the risks from large Icelandic eruptions. Her research was pivotal in the government creating a new risk register item on such eruptions. On the basis of this contribution, Dr. Schmidt is now a member of the Expert Advisory Group to the U.K. government on volcanic risks and emergencies. During the AGU Chapman Conference on Volcanism and the Atmosphere in Iceland in 2012, a film crew followed Dr. Schmidt around for a documentary they were making on the effects of volcanoes on the atmosphere. The show, Life on Fire — Icelandic Volcanoes, narrated by Jeremy Irons, premiered in the United States on 2 January 2013 on the prime science television show in the nation, NOVA, on the Public Broadcasting System. Her work was also extensively featured in the 2014 book Island on Fire: The Extraordinary Story of Laki, the Volcano That Turned Eighteenth-Century Europe Dark by Alexandra Witze and Jeff Kanipe based on interviews with Dr. Schmidt at that Chapman Conference. In summary, Anja Schmidt is an unusually talented interdisciplinary scientist who uses her knowledge and immense enthusiasm for volcanology to create new knowledge on the atmospheric impacts of volcanic eruptions. Her notable early-career publications, her ability to stimulate fruitful collaborations, her recognition as an expert by the U.K. government and her dedication to the public’s understanding of science all contributed to her Macelwane Medal. 

— Alan Robock Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey

Response

Thank you, Alan, for the very kind citation and nomination. I feel extremely honored to receive the James B. Macelwane Medal from AGU, and I am deeply grateful to Alan, those who wrote letters, AGU and the awards committee for selecting me. I feel even more honored to receive this award when looking at the list of past awardees — many of whom are close colleagues I collaborated with in the past and who had a substantial impact on my career. I have been very lucky to work with a group of outstanding students and postdocs and with colleagues and collaborators across the world — all of whom contributed to my accomplishments and my career. I truly believe that collaboratively, we can achieve and discover more, so I would like to dedicate this medal to my fantastic students, postdocs and collaborators across the world as well as to my partner and young daughter. I would like to encourage early-career scientists to work across disciplines — as challenging as it is, it’s incredibly exciting and rewarding.

— Anja Schmidt
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, United Kingdom