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23 December 2010
FM 2010: A real marathon…and then some
The 2010 AGU Fall Meeting is done, and now I know what a marathon it really is. Actually, it’s more like a marathon and a half. The grand total? A whopping 43.52 miles!! Those are miles logged in the hallways of Moscone West and South as well as trips to the Marriott Marquis, a few (very few) dinners away from the Union Square area, and walking to and from my …
21 December 2010
Good Scientific Papers 101
We planned for 25 attendees. Then raised it to 35. Then 50. Last week’s luncheon talk on writing a good scientific paper, given at AGU Fall Meeting by Renyi Zhang (an editor of JGR-Atmospheres), was overflowing with attendees!
Dr. Zhang covered everything from what makes a good abstract to how to prepare figures to how to respond to reviewers’ comments. The audience of mostly graduate students and postgrads took lots of notes, asked detailed questions, and enjoyed a good lunch. Their response to the session was so positive that we hope to expand this event next year so there is room for even more people to take the first step toward publication.
20 December 2010
A constant drumbeat to effectively communicate science to the public
The message came from multiple sources: the AGU Council meeting on Sunday, Monday’s Union lecture presented by Obama’s science advisor John Holdren, Michael Oppenheimer’s Stephen Schneider lecture, the many of the natural hazards presentations including Julia Slingo’s Union lecture, book authors, public speakers, senate staffers. The advice was near-universal: Scientists have an obligation to communicate science clearly and effectively to the public.
17 December 2010
Highlights of journal editor board meetings
This year, more than 19,000 people attended Fall Meeting through numerous presentations, poster sessions, lectures, and town halls. But behind the scenes there is a business side to the conference, where the editorial boards of AGU’s journals meet to discuss future plans with each other and AGU staff.
16 December 2010
Random Walks in Science
A Random Walk in Science is the title of a famous collection of anecdotes and distilled wisdom much loved by a generation of aspiring boffins. My AGU Fall Meeting experience is best described as a random walk in geophysics. It is, as I told AGU Outreach Chair Randy Richardson, always a challenging meeting. Added to the usual panic of a swimmer struggling desperately in a torrent of information (before succumbing …
“Seeing” Fall Meeting with New Eyes
Yesterday, as I was leaving my hotel in Union Square I saw a man in the hotel lobby with a red-tipped cane. With some worries about intruding where help was not needed I asked him if there was anything I could do. He said that he wanted to get a cab. I offered my elbow and we left the hotel. I asked where he was going. When he replied, “Moscone,” I realized he was going to the AGU meeting. I said I was too, thinking we might share the cab. Instead we ended up walking, and I had the real pleasure of getting to know Peter Rayner, an atmospheric scientist from Melbourne, Australia.
AGU honors retiring editors and presents 2010 William Kaula Award
The Editors Dinner was held Monday night in Victor’s and Alexander’s on Imperial Floor (the 32nd floor) of the Westin St. Francis. The view of San Francisco’s nightscape was magnificent! The dinner, hosted by the Publications Committee, gave the editors and associate editors a chance to socialize and unwind with colleagues. Several retiring editors were recognized for their service to AGU, including Hasan Virji and Manuel Grande (Eos); Meinrat Andreae …