Dr. Nandita Basu, Professor Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth and Environmental Sciences, Canada Research Chair in Global Water Sustainability and Ecohydrology, Director, Collaborative Water Program and Water Institute member.
Each year AGU, a professional society of more than 130,000 experts in the earth and space sciences, recognizes a select number of individuals for its highest honours recognizing their meritorious research and service toward the advancement and promotion of discovery and solution science.
The Joanne Simpson Medal is given annually to two honourees in recognition of their significant contributions to earth and space science. The medal recognizes exceptional scientists who have made transformative scientific advances or breakthrough in the earth and space sciences, have demonstrated strong leadership, and provided outstanding service to science and society.
The annual Paul A. Witherspoon lecture recognizes significant and innovative contributions by middle-career scientists to the hydrologic sciences through research aimed at socially important problems and through mentoring of young scientists. The award is named to honour the life and work of Paul A. Witherspoon, an accomplished hydrologist who was a leader in the field for more than 50 years.
Nandita received these major awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions in the fields of water sustainability and ecohydrology, where she has pioneered groundbreaking advances at the intersection of environmental sciences and engineering. Her team provided early insights on legacy fertilizer pollution and developed the first ever process-based nutrient-legacy model, Exploration of Long-term Nutrient Trajectories (ELEMeNT) for predicting how legacy nitrogen impacts the ability to meet water quality goals. Her work on nutrient legacies is complemented by research on wetlands, where her team was the first to demonstrate the disproportionately large contribution of small wetlands to water quality improvement, and the methodologies developed have been applied across wetland landscapes in North America.
“Nandita’s work is of great importance, not only for improving our basic understanding of how water and element cycles work in managed landscapes, but for informing critical risk assessments and management plans that can help sustain water resources for future generations, “ says Emily Bernhardt, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor at Duke University, and member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Her impact is demonstrated by her stellar publication and citation history (h index = 42, citations > 6000), with publications in top venues like Nature and Science, and multiple awards she has received over the years, including the 2020 AGU Sulzman Award for Education and Mentoring, Member of the Royal Society College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, and an Earth Leadership Fellow.
Nandita is an Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Hydrology, a member of the International Joint Commission’s Science Advisory Board – Science Priority Committee, and current Chair of AGU’s Lifeton Horton Medal Committee. She is a gifted mentor and educator, who has consistently nurtured the next generation of interdisciplinary environmental scientists while actively engaging in her role as a committed member of the research community. Her commitment to equity issues is evident in a recent effort where she is leading a Special Issue on Women in Hydrology in the Journal of Hydrology to highlight the role of women as mentors and collaborators. Nandita’s scientific creativity and dedication to environmental stewardship continues to inspire both her peers and the next generation of scientists.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to be recognized by AGU with the Joanne Simpson Medal and the Witherspoon Lecture. This acknowledgement reinforces my commitment to cultivate deeper public engagement with critical environmental issues, while also advocating for equity and mentorship within our scientific community,” said Dr. Basu, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth and Environmental Sciences.
AGU will formally recognize this year’s recipients at AGU23, which will convene more than 25,000 attendees from over 100 countries in San Francisco and online everywhere on 11-15 December 2023. This celebration is a chance for AGU’s community to recognize the outstanding work of our colleagues and be inspired by their accomplishments and stories.
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AGU (www.agu.org) is a global community supporting more than half a million advocates and professionals in the Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU aims to advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.