Josep Peñuelas, distinguished as a member of the leading American organization in advanced Earth and space science

The scientific organization American Geophysical Union (AGU) has highlighted the researcher Josep Peñuelas as AGU Fellow, a distinguished member of the year 2020, "for his dedication and exceptional contribution to Earth and space sciences and for having contributed to advancing through research and innovation."

Likewise, this prestigious entity has highlighted that "curiosity and the incessant search for answers" on the part of Josep Peñuelas have been decisive in naming him an outstanding member. The recognition has been made public today and will be extended to the entire entity and the scientific community in a virtual ceremony that will be held in December 2020 and in which the 62,000 members of the AGU, belonging to 144 countries, are summoned.

Since 1962, only 0.1% of AGU members have been honored with this recognition by its Membership Committee, which wants to honor research professionals who have made exceptional contributions to geoscience and space sciences.

The American Geophysical Union aims to broaden the scope and impact of Geoscience from ethical and impartial solutions that respect communities and their values.

For Josep Peñuelas, becoming a prominent member of the American Geophysical Union is "a great responsibility and at the same time I feel  thrilled, due to the visibility it brings to the work of a great team and the years of scientific research". And he especially highlights the fact that the AGU aims to expand the scope and impact of Earth and space sciences, creating solutions that are ethical, impartial and respectful of communities and their values.

The advancement of humanity, in focus

The American Geophysical Union is a non-profit scientific organization that promotes research on Earth and space science, with a focus on the advancement of humanity. Its members are specialists in Geosciences, the Earth, the space, the atmosphere, the ocean and hydrology. Its main activity focuses on disseminating scientific information on an international scale, in the interdisciplinary field of these specialties and becoming a qualified node of connection between professionals and disciplines. For this reason, it dedicates important efforts to exchanging scientific knowledge through conferences, meetings and specialized publications.

"This distinction is a great responsibility and, at the same time, an immense illusion for the recognition of the work of a team".

JOSEP PEÑUELAS, researcher from CSIC at CREAF.

The entity promotes new interdisciplinary fields of study with the desire to anticipate world changes, always inspiring a diverse and inclusive community. It promotes excellence in stable, scientific research and promotes standards and best practices and fosters the integrity of published research.

Established in 1919 by the National Research Council, the AGU was independently incorporated into the National Academy of Sciences in 1972, after 50 years of being linked to it as a subsidiary.

An ecologist for the sustainability of the planet

Josep Peñuelas is one of the most respected and influential current ecologists in the world, internationally recognized for his outstanding ability to address the challenges of global ecology with exceptional levels of interdisciplinarity. It is appointed as 'highly cited' by the ISI Essential Science Indicators in ecology / environment, plant and animal biology, agricultural sciences, geosciences and in all scientific fields, recognition that has been validated again in November 2020.

In November 2020 Josep Peñuelas is once again recognised as one of the most cited researchers in the world, evidence of his scientific influence.

He is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in discovering the ecophysiological mechanisms linked to carbon and oxygen, which explain the diversity and distribution of aquatic and terrestrial plants; develop remote sensing techniques for the functioning of ecosystems of wide international use; highlight the effect of global and climate change and air pollution on diversity; evidence the structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and the role of terrestrial ecosystems in the climate and global functioning of the planet; introduce metabolomics into ecology; study the mechanisms, functioning and effects of emissions of volatile organic compounds by plants and ecosystems; characterize the biogeochemical processes involved in carbon and nutrient cycles, and develop science and policies aimed at promoting food security and sustainability of the planet, among many others.