Two Indian Scientists Earn Prestigious 2026 American Geophysical Union Honours

Indian scientists are making their mark on the global scientific stage, with Roxy Mathew Koll and Neelima Satyam named among the 2026 awardees of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).The AGU has announced 43 awards recognising excellence and leadership across research, education and innovation in Earth and space sciences. The honours will be presented at the AGU’s annual meeting in San Francisco in December.For India, the recognition is particularly significant as Koll and Satyam represent two important areas of scientific research—climate science and disaster-resilient infrastructure.Roxy Mathew Koll: Making Climate Science HeardKoll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has been selected for the prestigious Pavel S. Molchanov Climate Communications Prize.A recipient of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (Yuva), Koll has played an important role in communicating how a rapidly warming Indian Ocean is affecting the region. His work has documented the ocean’s warming and its connections with changing monsoon patterns, marine heatwaves, cyclones and extreme rainfall.But his research goes beyond numbers and scientific observations. Koll has consistently highlighted how these changes are being felt by people across South Asia, affecting lives, livelihoods and communities.The annual prize recognises scientists who make climate science accessible and communicate the realities of climate change to wider audiences. Koll will receive USD 25,000, an engraved award and formal recognition.Neelima Satyam: Building a Safer FutureNeelima Satyam, a professor at IIT Indore, has been chosen for the Devendra Lal Memorial Medal. The honour is presented annually to an early- or mid-career scientist for outstanding research in Earth and/or space sciences.Satyam’s work focuses on geotechnical engineering, seismic hazards, resilient infrastructure and geohazard mitigation — fields that are crucial for making communities safer in the face of earthquakes and other natural hazards.Along with the engraved medal, Satyam will receive lifetime membership of the AGU.More Indian-Origin Scientists HonouredThe 2026 AGU awards also recognise Indian-American scientists Abdul Qadir and Faisal Hossain. Qadir, an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Maryland, has also worked with the North East Space Applications Centre in Shillong. He has been selected for the Science for Solutions Award.Hossain, an alumnus of Banaras Hindu University and professor at the University of Washington Seattle, has been chosen for the Ambassador Award.Together, these honours highlight the growing global impact of scientific work connected to India—from understanding a changing climate and protecting communities from natural hazards to finding solutions for challenges facing the planet.