Professor of Satellite Geodesy; Co-Director of the Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

AGU embraces the global community and welcomes leaders representing various identities, voices, and perspectives. List any identities, voices, and perspectives you would bring, including but not limited to nationality, regional representations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and anything else you feel comfortable sharing.

As a white, middle-aged man from the U.K., I am acutely aware of my privilege and responsibility to those I work with, teach, and lead. During my decade of leadership of the Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes (COMET), a center spanning 14 U.K. universities/institutions, I have ensured Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are central to our success. I established an active EDI committee that has taken national and international leadership on issues including ending the use of discriminatory language in interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), creating practical guidelines for safe, inclusive and equitable research fieldwork, and developing a funded internship scheme targeted at underrepresented groups. I am proud that COMET is now a much more diverse community.

On a personal level, I was brought up in a single-parent household and was the first in my family to go to university. I understand the challenges for those pioneering their own pathway and the value of key mentors and being part of supportive and diverse teams, as well as having access to funded opportunities such as internships, scholarships and travel awards. I would also bring an international (European) perspective and would aim to ensure that the section builds on and continues to value its active members outside the U.S.

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

Member of Geodesy section Canvassing Committee 2017-2021, responsible for ensuring diverse, high quality award nominations were received. Associate Editorships of open access journals Scientific Reports (2011-2014), Royal Society Open Science (2014-2019). Member (2024-present) of the European Space Agency’s Mission Advisory Group for the Hydroterra+, a geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar and Earth Explorer Candidate Mission. Chair of Governors, Pudsey Lowtown Primary School (2016-2023). Organiser/Co-organiser of multiple international meetings, including the Wegener Conference on Tectonic Geodesy.

This role aims to catalyze community and build AGU as envisioned by the strategic plan. This leadership position is a dual role - helping to advance AGU’s strategic plan as a member of Council and leading your section. How would you support the Board, staff and other sections to achieve AGU’s vision, values, mission, and goals? How will you engage with members of your section to execute AGU’s strategic plan?

Advances in geodetic science underpin fundamental science and societal challenges across all of AGU science. Our section is critical for enabling AGU to achieve its strategic goals:

Goal 1: Catalyze discovery and solutions to scientific and societal challenges

I would work with the Board, staff, leadership colleagues and members to build on the strength of the geodesy section, and work across sections to highlight and promote interdisciplinary, challenge-led research. Geodesists are leading practitioners of open science and open data and I would continue to promote this within the section.

Goal 2: Promote and exemplify an inclusive scientific culture

I would continue the work underway in diversifying our community. I value diversity, inclusion, equity, ethics and cultural awareness and would ensure that these continue to be core values that drive our programs and honors.

Goal 3: Partner broadly with other organizations and sectors to address scientific and societal challenges

Geodetic science has enormous impact beyond the scientific community. I would aim to use a dedicated session at the Fall Meeting to promote partnerships with organizations that use geodesy to tackle society’s grand challenges.

Members of the geodesy section are critical to achieving these strategic goals. I would aim to promote and grow membership in our section, using key colleagues throughout our worldwide community to build momentum around the Fall Meeting. One focus will be on international members, for example, using the opportunities offered by hybrid meetings to grow the section outside the core U.S. and European membership.

Section affiliations:

Geodesy; Natural Hazards; Seismology; Tectonophysics; Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology