Jean M. Bahr to Assume Presidency at the American Geosciences Institute

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to welcome Dr. Jean M. Bahr as the 2016-2017 President of its Executive Committee. Bahr is currently a professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and holds degrees from Stanford and Yale. She was appointed by President Obama to the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, is a fellow at the Geological Society of America (GSA), and is an editor for the American Geophysical Union journal, “Water Resources and Research.”

Bahr served as the 2009 President of GSA. During her tenure, GSA finalized position statements on Climate Change, Public Investment in Earth Science Research, the Role of Government in Mineral and Energy Resources Research, Expanding and Improving Geoscience in Higher Education, and the Importance of Teaching Earth science and Diversity in the Geoscience Community. She also strengthened the relationship between GSA and its industry partners.

During her GSA presidency, she gained an appreciation of the unique balance that exists between the professionals who volunteer their time to a society and the staff members who support the missions of an organization. “GSA, as a professional society of individual members, relies heavily on the volunteer efforts of many members. Nevertheless, it is the talented and dedicated staff that does much of the heavy lifting,” Bahr said of her time at GSA. “I expect this is even truer for a federation of societies, such as AGI, where the Member Society Representatives are already heavily committed to their own societies.”

“I look forward to working with new Executive Director, Allyson Anderson Book, and the AGI staff to sustain, and enhance, AGI’s successful programs related to geoscience information, education, workforce development and public policy,” Bahr said when asked about her upcoming presidency. “I also hope to explore strategies to enhance interactions among, and service to, the member societies that make up AGI as it provides a venue in which member society representatives can discuss topics of common interest, including how our societies can work together to promote public support of geoscience research and education.”

Bahr will officially receive her presidential gavel at the GSA Annual Meeting on September 27, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.