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December 19, 2025

AGU recognizes five UW researchers in the College of the Environment

The American Geophysical Union honored five University of Washington faculty and researchers from the Earth and space sciences and atmospheric and climate science departments this week at the annual meeting in New Orleans.

Each year, the meeting draws thousands of scientists, educators and policymakers to discover emerging research, discuss hurdles and network. Prior to the meeting, AGU announces awards for individuals who have made significant contributions to Earth and space science and presents them in person during the week.

The theme for this year’s AGU conference is, “Where Science Connects Us,” and the UW awardees were recognized for research that advances understanding of natural hazards, the history of Earth, weather and climate change.

Here are the UW’s five recipients and their respective awards:

Michelle Muth, a UW assistant professor of Earth and space sciences, studies how magmas form beneath volcanoes. She specializes in work that involves using samples from past volcanic eruptions to examine the behavior of volcanic gases like water, carbon, and sulfur, which can help researchers monitor active volcanoes. Muth received the Hisashi Kuno Award for early career scientists who have made outstanding contributions to fields of volcanology, geochemistry, and petrology.

Dale R. Durran, a UW professor of atmospheric and climate science, studies predictability, mountain meteorology and numerical weather prediction. Durran’s recent research focuses on using deep learning to change our current paradigm for numerical weather prediction, seasonal forecasting and climate modeling. He holds a joint position with NVIDIA. Durran received the Jule Gregory Charney Lecture award for prominent scientists who have made exceptional contributions to the understanding of weather and climate.

Christopher M. Kenseth, a UW postdoctoral researcher of atmospheric and climate science, studies the formation and evolution of aerosol particles in the atmosphere, which play a pivotal role in both air pollution and climate change. By identifying and characterizing the fundamental chemical processes governing aerosol behavior, his research supports efforts to predict current atmospheric conditions and the trajectory of air quality and climate moving forward. Kenseth received the James R. Holton Award recognizing outstanding science and accomplishments by researchers that are within three years of receiving their doctorate.

Joshua Krissansen-Totton, a UW assistant professor of Earth and space sciences, uses simulations to study the interactions between planetary atmospheres, interiors and biospheres to better understand the long-term evolution of Earth, Venus and rocky exoplanets. By building a holistic understanding of planetary evolution, this work will help enable scientists to search for life on other planets. Krissansen-Totton received the Ronald Greeley Early Career Award in Planetary Sciences recognizing significant contributions to planetary science by early career researchers

Fang-Zhen Teng, a UW professor of Earth and space sciences, studies the ratio of elements and their isotopes in rocks and minerals to understand how planets form and evolve. His research introduced a new method for analysis involving isotopic “fingerprints” that allows scientists to learn about Earth’s crust, the composition of the mantle, the origins of magma and even the early solar system. Teng was inducted as a Union Fellow, a program that recognizes AGU members who have made exceptional contributions to Earth and space science through a breakthrough, discovery or innovation in their field.

Tag(s): Christopher Kenseth • College of the Environment • Dale Durran • Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science • Department of Earth and Space Sciences • Fang-Zhen Teng • George Bergantz • Harold Tobin • Joshua Krissansen-Totton • Michelle Muth

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