Aiguo Dai Elected as Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
By Mike Nolan
ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 19, 2024) — University at Albany atmospheric scientist Aiguo Dai has been elected among the American Geophysical Union’s 2024 Class of Fellows.
Each year, AGU, the world's largest Earth and space science association, selects a small number of individuals who have made exceptional contributions to be elected as fellows. Since its inception in 1962, less than 0.1% of AGU members have been selected.
AGU Fellows are recognized for their scientific eminence, demonstrated through breakthroughs, discoveries or innovations that advance the Earth and space sciences. Fellows act as external experts, advising government agencies and other organizations outside the sciences upon request.
“Professor Dai continues to distinguish himself in many important ways, and this selection by the AGU is a mark of prestige and considered a great honor,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Jeanette Altarriba. “We are pleased that this organization has recognized Dr. Dai in this manner, and we wish him continued success as we have no doubt that he will continue to achieve greater heights within his important area of research investigation.”
Dai, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences (DAES), is an internationally renowned climate scientist with a focus on Arctic climate change, natural climate variability, future climate change, the global water cycle, hydroclimate, drought, Asian monsoons and climate data analysis.
With more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and an average of 13 peer-reviewed publications annually since 2019, Dai has received 66,000-plus citations with an annual citation rate of about 6,000 per year and an H-index of 92. Six of his articles have been cited more than 3,000 times each according to Google Scholar. He is currently the most highly cited scholar at UAlbany and one of the most cited researchers in the overall field of atmospheric science.
Dai also attracted significant external funding, totaling over $9.4 million, from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, NOAA and NASA. In 2018, he was elected a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, a designation limited to no more than 0.2 percent of all AMS members.
“Being elected as an AGU Fellow is a great honor and provides further recognition of the significant contributions that Professor Dai has made in understanding Earth’s Climate and changes related to human-induced influences. The department has great pride in his accomplishments,” said DAES Chair and Professor Ryan Torn.
2024 fellows will be recognized at AGU24, which will convene more than 25,000 attendees from over 100 countries in Washington, D.C. from Dec. 9 to 13.