Venkataraman “Venkat” Lakshmi, John L. Newcomb Professor in the Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, has been appointed an OFFICER OF THE AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION. Lakshmi will serve as president-elect of the Hydrology section for a two-year term starting January 1, 2023.The American Geophysical Union, known as AGU, is a non-profit with a mission to "support and inspire a global community of individuals and organizations interested in advancing discovery in Earth and space sciences and its benefit for humanity and the environment," according to its WEBSITE. Established in 1919 by the National Research Council, AGU has grown into a preeminent international society for Earth and space sciences with a community of 60,000 members. The Hydrology Section has 6000 members.
Lakshmi's areas of research interest include catchment hydrology, satellite data validation and assimilation, field experiments, land-atmosphere interactions, the vadose zone — the area that extends from Earth's ground surface to the water table — and water resources. He is active in a COMMUNITY OF RESEARCHERS AT UVA ENGINEERING and the UVA College of Arts & Sciences addressing environmental challenges, including the LINK LAB for cyber-physical systems research.
Specifically, Lakshmi specializes in using data collected from space, aircraft and in situ systems along with hydrological and ecological models to make observations about the terrestrial water cycle and to better understand weather, climate and ecology. Last year, Lakshmi's research team USED GLOBAL SATELLITE IMAGERY and other open-source information to inform an international water conflict.
Election as an officer in the AGU is another accolade in a resume full of honors for Lakshmi. He is a fellow of the Geological Society of America, a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He also currently serves on the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine and on the NASA Earth Science Advisory Committee.