AGU - Earth | Oceans | Atmosphere | Space | Planets

• Award Biography
• Nomination Process & Requirements
• Submission Process
• Evaluation Process
• Union Medals, Awards & Prize Process Timeline
• Past Recipients

The Athelstan Spilhaus Award is awarded not more than once annually to an individual AGU member for devoting portions of their career to conveying to the general public the excitement, significance, and beauty of the Earth and space sciences. Outreach activities may be through books, essays, newspaper articles, speeches, films or photographic displays, exhibits, radio or television pieces, interviews, web sites, or other media; the goal being to reach wide audiences and enhance public understanding in settings distinct from formal education. Robert H. Eather was the first recipient of the Spilhaus Award in 2006.

Established in 2003, the Spilhaus Award is named in honor of geophysicist and meteorologist Athelstan F. Spilhaus Sr. who enthusiastically made innovative contributions to science, education, and public service. He was a scientist, inventor, innovator, cartoonist, and leader in the geosciences community. His outreach to the general public included an informative science center at the 1961 Seattle World's Fari and "Our New Age," and a long-running science cartoon in some 100 Sunday newspapers throughout the US. 

 

 

Frequency:

Presented to one awardee annually.

Citation/Scope Statement:

For enhancement of the public understanding of the Earth and space sciences.

Physical Description:

• Presentation piece description:  puzzle of the plates etched onto Huntington Crystal with granite base.