As a passionate advocate for science and its transformative power, I had the privilege of serving as the 2022- 2023 Global Ambassador for the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) Community of Practice (CoP). This role allowed me to deepen my engagement with the global scientific community, strengthen collaborations, and amplify the voices of diverse researchers across the world. Here, I’d like to reflect on this incredible opportunity and share how it contributed to my growth and understanding of the broader geoscience community.

Many have asked how I became an AGU Ambassador and the answer is that I was nominated. I still don’t know who nominated me. But I was given an opportunity to accept or reject the nomination and I chose to accept it. A very sound decision that opened up more opportunities and broadened my persepctive.

What is the AGU Community of Practice (CoP)?

The AGU Community of Practice (CoP) is a dynamic space where professionals in the geosciences, from all sectors and backgrounds, come together to share knowledge, experiences, and strategies for advancing scientific progress. It is designed to foster collaboration, provide networking opportunities, and ensure that researchers have the resources they need to thrive in their fields. As a CoP Global Ambassador, I had the honor of bridging these communities, particularly connecting international voices with the global geoscience network.

My Role as Global Ambassador

As the Global Ambassador, my main responsibility was to represent and advocate for the AGU’s initiatives on an international scale. This meant ensuring that scientists, particularly those from underrepresented communities, had a platform to share their work and contribute to critical conversations about the future of geoscience. It was a powerful role that involved facilitating dialogues, promoting initiatives, and supporting the development of tools and resources that make geoscience more accessible. Moreover, I was one of the ambassadors who advised AGU on DEI related issues for applying to their community and policies. I helped formulate some of these policies over the months I worked with the team.

Advocating for Inclusivity and Collaboration

One of the most important aspects of my role was advocating for inclusivity within the geoscience community. Throughout my time as an ambassador, I worked to ensure that diverse voices were heard, particularly from those in the Global South. My own background and experiences have shown me how important it is to support and uplift scientists from all corners of the world. Geoscience is a universal field, and by embracing diversity, we can make our scientific community stronger, more innovative, and more relevant to addressing global challenges like climate change, resource management, and sustainability.

Through collaborations with fellow ambassadors and AGU members, we organized initiatives aimed at improving representation within the scientific workforce. This included virtual forums and workshops that discussed how to break barriers in STEM education and research, and how to create equitable access to funding and resources.

Strengthening Global Connections

During my term as an ambassador, I had the opportunity to work closely with AGU members from across the globe, forging lasting partnerships and expanding my network of like-minded scientists. These connections were vital in enhancing the sharing of knowledge and best practices in geophysics and geosciences. I also used this platform to highlight the importance of local context in scientific research, particularly in oceanography and environmental science, where region-specific factors often play a critical role in understanding geophysical processes.

One of the most rewarding outcomes of this experience was being able to bring together voices from different regions to collaborate on solving shared challenges. Whether it was organizing webinars on best practices in scientific communication or facilitating discussions on data sharing, the connections I made during my time as ambassador were transformative not only for me but for the wider scientific community.

Looking Forward: What’s Next?

As I reflect on my time as the AGU CoP Global Ambassador, I feel both proud of the strides made and hopeful for the future. This role has cemented my commitment to fostering global collaboration, inclusivity, and the advancement of geosciences across borders. There is still much work to be done, but the experience has equipped me with the tools and knowledge to continue advocating for a more inclusive, dynamic, and interconnected scientific community.

Moving forward, I plan to continue building on the relationships and initiatives sparked during my ambassadorship, using my platform to push for greater accessibility, representation, and impact within the geoscience fields. The work of the AGU CoP is far from over, and I look forward to being part of the conversation for years to come.

Being an ambassador for AGU has been an incredibly rewarding journey, one that has broadened my horizons and reaffirmed my belief in the power of collaboration, diversity, and science in solving some of the world’s most pressing problems.