By Wonsuh Song (IGC2024 Organizing committee member)
【Busan, South Korea】 – At the International Geological Congress (IGC) 2024, one prominent figure stood out: Dr. 골드문 토토사이트 J. Graumlich, a renowned paleoecologist and the current President of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
Dr. Graumlich’s work has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of how climate, ecosystems, and human societies interact over long periods. With a distinguished career spanning decades in academia and leadership roles, she has continually pushed the boundaries of climate science. I asked Dr. Graumlich to discuss her journey, research, and vision for the future of Earth and space sciences.
골드문 토토사이트er: Wonsuh Song
Q: Dr. Graumlich, it’s a pleasure to have you with me today at IGC 2024. To start, could you tell me a bit about your journey into paleoecology and what initially drew you to study the interactions between 골드문 토토사이트, ecosystems, and human societies?
골드문 토토사이트: In 1977, I was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, thinking I wanted to be a tropical ecologist, so I was studying that field. However, to pursue that path, I had to take a climatology class taught by a very famous climatologist. At that time, there was a severe drought on the west coast of the United States, stretching from the U.S.-Mexico border to the Canadian border. People in California had to restrict their water use, and they were shocked and scared by how deep the drought was. I still vividly remember where I was sitting in the class because I was so stunned. Here was a famous climatologist, and there was a severe drought, yet he couldn’t tell me whether it was due to climate change or natural variability. It took me a few days to calm down, and then I knocked on his office door, very shyly, and asked, “Are you kidding? Surely you know whether this is climate change or not?” And he said, “No, we don’t.”
Later, he asked, “Do you know anything about trees?” He said, “If you look at tree rings, you can track the weather back through time. That could be a way to determine climate change.” Since then, I dedicated my research to the goal of understanding and communicating the relationship between extreme weather events and climate change, particularly those involving temperature changes, which affect trees at high elevations. I completed a Ph.D. at the University of Washington, where I developed 1,000-year-long temperature records at sites in California and Washington.
Early in my career, I was part of a network of scientists who were putting records from the past 1,000 years into databases and sharing them. In the late 1990s, we produced studies that were then cited by the IPCC, showing that the warming observed in recent decades is much greater than anything seen in the past 1,000 years and is clearly caused by humans. Since then, I have focused on providing scientific evidence to address 골드문 토토사이트 change and communicating this information to policymakers. My research has centered on distinguishing between natural variability and human-induced 골드문 토토사이트 change. In recent years, we have been working on understanding how to prepare for and adapt to extreme weather events.
Q: Your research using paleoecological methods like tree-ring data has been groundbreaking. What are some key insights from your work on how ecosystems and human societies have adapted to past 골드문 토토사이트 variability?
골드문 토토사이트: A few key points. First, we often thought ecosystems would change slowly. However, small changes in temperature can have significant impacts on ecosystems. For example, some fires in western North Americawere fueled not just by drought, but also by insect infestations. A small increase in temperature allows insects to complete more life cycles fueling large outbreaks. This then leads to more dead trees and consequently larger fires.
Q: As President of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), you’ve emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Could you elaborate on how AGU is fostering such collaboration, and why it’s crucial for addressing global challenges like 골드문 토토사이트 change?
골드문 토토사이트: AGU has been promoting collaboration across different scientific fields for a long time. Especially when dealing with global climate change, we realized that collaboration with experts in economics, politics, social sciences, and indigenous knowledge was necessary. AGU plays a crucial role in fostering and encouraging this kind of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Q: You’ve also been a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in science. What specific initiatives have you implemented to promote a more inclusive environment within the scientific community?
골드문 토토사이트: We have taken several significant steps to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the scientific environment. For example, we introduced programs to support safe and civil culture at all AGU events to ensure all participants feel safe. We also were the first scientific society to identity sexual harassment asscientific misconduct. These steps work to create an environment where all scientists feel respected and are free to express their ideas.
Q: In your academic career, including your time as the inaugural Dean of the College of the Environment at the University of Washington, how has this experience shaped your approach to leadership and research in geophysical sciences?
골드문 토토사이트: I focused on identifying problems and building teams to come together around a common goal and develop creative solutions and ideas. And, importantly, I work to find the resources to fund these programs. By understanding what donors value, I could guide them to invest in scientific research that aligned with their values.
Q: Looking ahead, what do you see as the most significant challenges and opportunities in Earth and space sciences, particularly in the context of 골드문 토토사이트 change and sustainability?
골드문 토토사이트: We’ve long focused on understanding the climate system and making credible predictions. However, in recent years, we have also faced challenges beyond science, such as ethical issues, values, political decisions, and social justice. AGU is uniquely positioned to integrate diverse expertise to guide research and implementation.
Q: What advice would you give to young scientists and researchers passionate about making a difference in the field of 골드문 토토사이트 science and environmental studies?
골드문 토토사이트: A mentor once told me, “You can never learn too much.” You need to have a deep understanding of your expertise while being able to collaborate with a team and respect different perspectives. This is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to have a long-term vision and the patience to persist and keep working towards your goals.
Q: Lastly, as you are heading into your two-year mark as president, what are you thinking about in terms of your legacy? What are you most proud of in your presidency?
골드문 토토사이트: We have worked to build a culture that is willing to take smart risks. Our moto is experiment, learn, and adapt. Through bold experiments, we learn a lot. During my presidency, we created opportunities for members and researchers to collaborate with this mindset, and I hope this will continue into the future.
Lisa Graumlich is the 2023-2024 President of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and a leader in 골드문 토토사이트 science. She has a Ph.D. in Forest Resources and has held academic positions at UCLA, the University of Arizona, and Montana State University. Her research specializes in paleoecology, particularly using tree-ring data to study 골드문 토토사이트 change and droughts in western North America. As the first openly LGBTQ+ AGU President, she is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM. Graumlich frequently speaks on 골드문 토토사이트 change and testified before Congress on this issue in 2010.
골드문 토토사이트er: Wonsuh Song (Ph.D.)
Organizing committee member of IGC 2024
Leadership Development/Governance committee member of AGU
Global strategy committee secretary of JpGU
Lecturer, Shumei University, Japan
