The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has been awarded a Power of A Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). ASAE’s highest honor, the Summit Award is given to associations that go above and beyond their everyday mission to undertake initiatives that benefit America and the world. ASAE members represent 7,400 organizations of all types, making this recognition for AGU especially noteworthy. Only six associations were selected for this honor in 2019.

AGU’s Thriving Earth Exchange helps communities work with AGU member scientists to tackle local priorities related to resilience, sustainability, and environmental health. Thriving Earth Exchange matches communities with vetted and trained member scientists who help communities design and carry out projects that deal with the impacts of global issues such as climate change, disasters, hazards and pollution. Now in 100 localities, Thriving Earth Exchange brings together communities with AGU member scientists to tackle priorities related to resilience, sustainability, and environmental health and, in the process, has impacted the lives of over 17 million people.

“AGU’s Thriving Earth Exchange is honored to have received a Power of A Summit Award from ASAE. This award is proof positive that scientific knowledge, combined with community knowledge, is a powerful way of ameliorating real-world problems in an inclusive and effective manner,” said AGU CEO/Executive Director Chris McEntee. “I am hopeful this award will encourage more scientists to offer their skills to communities and more communities to reach out to scientists.” 

Awardees were judged on three criteria: 

  • Reach of Project or Program: Award-winning entries must offer original or effective solutions to today’s societal or business problems.
  • Embodying the Power of Associations: Award-winning entries must effectively showcase how associations strengthen society through volunteerism, education, social responsibility, innovation, research and problem solving.
  •  Objectives and Outcomes: Award-winning entries must generate results that achieve the association’s defined and measurable objectives. 

“Through AGU’s Thriving Earth Exchange, communities and scientists work together to do science that makes a concrete local impact – reducing pollution, protecting people from natural hazards, and building a future in which everyone can thrive. This recognition is a testament to the power of cooperation and the value of connecting science and community knowledge, and – most of all – it’s a well-deserved shout out to our scientific volunteers and the community leaders they work with,” said Thriving Earth Exchange Director Raj Pandya. “Special thanks to the Thriving Earth Exchange team, our advisory board, AGU leadership, and the AGU Board and Council.  We share this award with many collaborators, including Higher Ground, the International City/County Managers Association, National League of Cities, ICLEI USA, iSeeChange, EPA’s Community and Underserved Partnership Program, and Public Lab.  

Power of A Summit Award winners will be formally recognized at the 20th Anniversary Power of A-Summit Awards Dinner on 2 October at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.

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Founded in 1919, AGU is a not-for-profit scientific society dedicated to advancing Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. We support 60,000 members, who reside in 135 countries, as well as our broader community, through high-quality scholarly publications, dynamic meetings, our dedication to science policy and science communications, and our commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workforce, as well as many other innovative programs. AGU is home to the award-winning news publication Eos, the Thriving Earth Exchange, where scientists and community leaders work together to tackle local issues, and a headquarters building that represents Washington, D.C.’s first net zero energy commercial renovation. We are celebrating our Centennial in 2019. #AGU100