The American Geophysical Union (AGU) recently announced its list of AGU awards/honors for renowned experts in various fields in 2021. Seventy-eight scientists from all over the world received accolades, including thirty awards for named lectureships to recognize distinguished scientists with proven leadership in their fields of science.

Junguo LIU, Chair Professor of the School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and member of the European Academy of Sciences, received the Paul A. Witherspoon Lecture in the Hydrology Section. He is the first Asian scholar to receive the award since its formation.

Junguo LIU is a recipient of the Outstanding Young Scientist from the National Science Foundation of China and has long been engaged in scientific research and teaching water resources and ecological restoration. He proposed the three-dimensional water shortage theory and the ecological restoration theory in protecting and utilizing water resources. His innovative research work has had an important impact in the field of water resources at home and abroad.

He is the first hydrologist and Chinese scientist to receive the Outstanding Young Scientist Award by the European Geosciences Union (EGU) and the first Chinese scientist to receive the Technology Communication Award from the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER). In 2020, he received the World Academy of Science (TWAS) Award and the Science and Technology Award by the Chinese Soil and Water Conservation Society (CSWCS).

Established in 1919 with more than 62,000 members from 137 countries, AGU is the world’s largest society in Earth Sciences. AGU’s activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international fields within the Earth and space sciences.

The Paul A. Witherspoon Lecture is presented annually. It recognizes significant and innovative contributions by mid-career scientists to the hydrologic sciences through research aimed at socially important problems and through mentoring of young scientists.

Related link: https://eos.org/agu-news/2021-agu-section-awardees-and-named-lecturers