The American Geosciences Institute Welcomes Dr. Eric M. Riggs as its President for the 2014-2015 Year

The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) welcomes Dr. Eric M. Riggs as its President for the 2014-2015 year. With him, Riggs brings a passion for geoscience, geoscience education and the desire to create an inclusive and diverse geoscience community.

“One of the outcomes of my term as President, I hope, will be a renewed focus on the future of the Geoscience workforce, especially related to diversity and inclusion,” Riggs said. “Given the large projected workforce shortages by AGI and others, we now more than ever need to refocus and redouble our efforts as a community to attract and retain talent from all segments of our society.”

Riggs’ has had a distinguished career in geoscience education. As the President of AGI Member Organization the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), Riggs worked with AGI for the first time by participating as a representative to the AGI Member Society Council. His research teams have brought in a combined total of $10.3 million over his career trying to better understand the cognitive processes of how students learn geoscience concepts, and issues related to recruitment and retention of a diverse population within the geosciences. He has been invited to speak at events hosted by AGI member organizations Geological Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, NAGT, and multiple universities.

Leadership roles and work within AGI member organizations have helped Riggs gain a robust knowledge of the organizations that make up the AGI federation—valuable information for his presidency. “Many member societies have outstanding programs moving in the direction of reaching out to ethnic and cultural minority communities, attracting and retaining women and broadening participation of individuals with disabilities. The role of AGI can and should be to coordinate the leaders of these programs to make sure that as a community we are doing everything we can; placing resources and effort where it will be most effective.”

Riggs is currently the Assistant Dean at Texas A&M University, as well as a Research Associate Professor at the Department of Geology and Geophysics. He has previously been affiliated with Purdue University, Indiana University, and San Diego State University.