Eos, Vol. 76, No. 52, December 26, 1995 try in the presence of particles was the cause. eries concerning the depletion of ozone by American Geophysical Union, the American In 1986, a novel analysis of ground-based CFCs, Sherry has been a leader in measure­ Physical Society, and the American Associa­ ozone observations with his graduate stu­ ments of atmospheric methane and other tion for the Advancement of Science. Sherry dent, Neil Harris, first revealed alarming hydrocarbons. Methane is a key greenhouse- holds six honorary doctorates. Among the decreases in ozone abundances over the active gas, participates in stratospheric and most important awards he has garnered are northern hemisphere in certain seasons. tropospheric chemistry, and controls the the Tyler World Prize for Environmental Again, these decreases have been linked amount of water vapor in the upper atmos­ Achievement (1983) and the Japan Prize in with CFCs. It is not possible to exaggerate the phere. Sherry's work defined, with clarity Environmental Science and Technology continuing importance of Sherry's basic re­ and accuracy, an increase in methane over (1989). Those were the most important search for underpinning the theory of ozone the last decade that is very likely associated awards until today, when he officially re­ depletion by chlorofluorocarbons and other with human activities. ceives the medal named in honor of another compounds. Sherry's efforts (in the labora­ "Sherry has won countless awards and hon­ environmental hero and role model, Roger tory, field, and lecture halls around the ors for his research contributions and for Revelle, who would be most happy to see world) have led directly to the Montreal Pro­ professional activities and community serv­ Sherry wearing the medal named after tocol, the banning of CFCs, and, in the ice. Sherry is a member of the National him."—Richard P. Turco, Professor, Chair of bargain, the likely easing of greenhouse Academy of Sciences and is soon to be its Atmospheric Sciences, University of California, warming. In addition to these seminal discov­ Foreign Secretary. He is a Fellow of the Los Angeles Allegre Receives the William Bowie Medal PAGE 535 mium and boron isotopes, and on geology The 1995 William Bowie Medal, given by and cosmology. He also wrote three books AGU for outstanding contributions to funda­ during this time. Allegre has now returned to mental geophysics and for unselfish full-time research, but he also chairs BRGM, cooperation in research, was presented to the French Geological Survey, which he has Claude Allegre at the AGU Spring Meeting undertaken to renovate completely. There is Honor Ceremony on May 31 in Baltimore. probably no Earth scientist alive today who The award citation is given here. has so well combined science of the highest "The Bowie Medal is the American Geo­ international quality with major contribu­ physical Union's highest award. It honors tions to the organization and administration "outstanding contributions to fundamental of science and to national politics and inter­ geophysics" and "unselfish cooperation in re­ national influence. search." One might therefore wonder how in "Allegre is a man of quite astonishing en­ the world a geochemist could qualify. Let ergy, breadth, and interests. For a couple of me try to explain. decades he has run an isotope geochemistry "Claude Allegre is a true citizen of the laboratory that has made outstanding contri­ world and a Renaissance person. His labora­ butions to geochronology, meteoritics, and tory is the world, the people on it, and the mantle evolution. Allegre also built the finest globe they live on. He is not only interested Earth sciences department in France, and ar­ in the world, but in seeing that people are guably the best in Europe. He is the author of trained properly to study it and that the good a number of books, ranging from the struc­ ture of French universities and their place in people end up in the right places. What Paris. There are few geochemistry labs in the society to overviews of the Earth to popular makes Claude unique is the extent of his in­ world with an analytical arsenal covering Rb- books on Earth evolution and cosmology. volvement in the organization of research Sr, U-Th-Pb, Sm-Nd, Re-Os, U-Series, and and education far beyond his interests in geo­ "Allegre is an elected member of a French He-Ar-Ne-Xe technologies, and which apply chemistry, or even geophysics. He organized regional assembly and, until a recent elec­ these to a diversity of studies ranging from the entire Earth sciences community in tion, held a very influential position as the mantle, continental crust, volcanics, and France and then Europe. He helped found special advisor to the Minister of Higher Edu­ sediments of the Earth to lunar rocks and me­ the European Union of Geosciences and in­ cation and Research. He introduced a teorites. Allegre is also a talented and sisted that English be the only official United States-style Ph.D. in French universi­ multidimensional theoretician, with contribu­ language. He brought the Institut de Phy­ ties. At an early stage in his career, he tions in inversion theory, rock mechanics, sique du Globe de Paris to a rank that places achieved the even more astonishing feat of seismology, fractals, volcanology, and river it among the finest of the research and educa­ persuading the French government to aban­ drainage. tional institutes in the world. He has been don the deGaulle doctrine of "French only" "There are just a few people in our field the "conseiller special" to the Minister of Edu­ for traveling scientists. He has also insisted whose contributions are so important and en­ cation and "acting minister" of the that French scientists publish in English in in­ compassing that they become naturals for universities in France. During this time he ternational journals. French science is now every major medal. Claude is one of these launched an unprecedented reform, gather­ much more widely known, worldwide, than people. His science is superb, and he has ing extensive political and financial support. it was before Allegre came on the scene. put enormous energy into the infrastructure During this same period, between 1988 and "France is today an international leader in of science, not only in his own country but 1992, he was still active in the laboratory and the fields of geodynamics and geochemistry, also on the international scene. Allegre is published 30 papers on lead, manganese, and few would dispute that this is due largely the indisputable intellectual leader in chromium, uranium, thorium, radon, noble to the activities and leadership of Claude French Earth science. He is, as well, a ma­ gas, samarium, neodymium, rhenium, os­ Allegre and his students at the University of jor contributor to the health and vigor of This page may be freely copied. Eos, Vol. 76, No. 52, December 26, 1995 international geosciences. He has been a tioned the details of his science or the hun­ in that it recognizes the person as well as the very constructive force in bringing together dreds of papers he has authored. He has accomplishments. In a very real way, he has both the disciplinary and international diversi­ received many honors for his science and for redefined both "geophysics" and "unselfish" ties of the Earth sciences. He takes an active his discoveries. I have stressed those things and it is fitting that he be awarded the 1995 interest in young scientists and is responsible he has accomplished since his last medal, Bowie Medal for outstanding scientific contri­ for putting excellent people into excellent jobs since we don't want to honor him twice for butions and unselfish cooperation."—Don L. around the world. I have deliberately not men­ the same thing. The Bowie Medal is unique Anderson, Caltech, Pasadena, Calif. Enhance the involvement of all mem­ AGU 1998: A Synopsis of the AGU Plan, bers, including students, in AGU activi­ ties so as to maximize the effectiveness July 1, 1995-July30, 1998 of volunteer contributions of time and ef­ fort toward AGU goals. "Planning is...attending to the goals we ought to be thinking about and never do, Volunteers are the essence of AGU activ­ the facts we do not like to face and the questions we lack the courage to ask." ity. AGU exists to provide a framework John Gardener within which their work can effectively ad­ vance the geophysical sciences. The Union should aggressively work to increase the number and diversity of volunteers. Their in­ Every two years, AGU prepares a three-year The long-term goals follow: volvement and the energy with which they plan—a blueprint of Union activities for the tackle activities is a primary measure of the next three years. The process of developing Assure that each of AGU's publications, health of the Union. An improved under­ it promotes communication, the develop­ meetings, services, and interactions with standing by all constituents of the practices ment of new ideas, and the search for members is outstanding in all aspects and policies of the Union and of how individ­ consensus. It sets in motion necessary and has a high impact on the further de­ ual members can participate in their changes. In creating the Plan, we assess our velopment of the geophysical sciences. development is necessary. In addition, mem­ internal capabilities and external environ­ To meet this end for publications, we bers should understand the risks, costs and ment. We identify actions necessary to must concentrate on maintaining and im­ advantages of the application of new technol­ achieve AGU's purposes and to avoid poten­ proving: ogy, so that expectations remain in line with tial disaster.