Bradley Cramer, professor in the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received two national honors recognizing his leadership and contributions to the geosciences.
Cramer has been named president-elect of the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), a federation representing 44 professional societies across the geosciences. He is also a recipient of the Geological Society of America’s 2026 50 Under 50 Award, which recognizes geoscientists across North America for excellence in research, service to the profession, and mentorship.
Established jointly by the Geological Society of America, Geological Association of Canada, and Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, the 50 Under 50 Award honors geoscientists whose accomplishments reflect a commitment to advancing the field and supporting the next generation of scientists.
AGI brings together organizations representing a broad range of geoscience disciplines, such as the Geological Society of America, American Geophysical Union, and American Association of Geographers. The institute supports geoscience education, tracks workforce trends, and provides information to policymakers and the public about the role of geosciences in society. Cramer will begin serving as AGI president-elect in October 2026 and president in October 2027, followed by a year as past president beginning in October 2028.
"The workforce landscape, the research landscape, and the higher education landscape are all changing at an unprecedented pace, and coordinated solutions developed through partnerships between industry, academia, and professional societies are essential to chart the path forward. AGI is the only organization strategically positioned to develop the partnerships needed to shape the future of the geoscience enterprise,” Cramer said. “At the University of Iowa, the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability is taking a national leadership role in helping to reimagine how we educate and train the geoscience workforce of the future."
Cramer also played a central role in preserving United States participation and membership in scientific organizations. As chair of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union on Geological Sciences, Cramer spent the last 18 months working with colleagues on the U.S. National Committees for five other unions, including Biological Sciences, Geodesy and Geophysics, Geography, Soil Sciences, and Quaternary Research, to establish a new arrangement with the National Science Foundation under which AGI serves as the U.S. adhering body for these international scientific unions. The arrangement creates a coordinated structure for U.S. participation through a new U.S. National Committee for Earth and Life Science Unions.
Together, Cramer's new appointment and 50 Under 50 recognition highlight his contributions to the geoscience community through research, professional service, and leadership. As he prepares to assume his role at AGI, Cramer will continue to help the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability innovate how CLAS prepares students for careers in the 21st century.