Meha Jain, associate professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), has been awarded the Early Career Award in Global Environmental Change from the American Geophysical Union (AGU). 

Jain's work examines how global environmental change, including climate change, is impacting smallholder agriculture and how farmers may adapt to reduce negative impacts. She also examines ways to sustainably enhance agricultural production, reducing the negative environmental impacts of agriculture. To do this work, Jain combines remote sensing and geospatial analyses with household-level and census datasets to examine farmer decision-making and agricultural production across large spatial and temporal scales. 

AGU is the largest Earth and space science association in the world. Through its annual honors and recognition program, the association celebrates individuals and teams for their accomplishments in research, education, science communication and outreach. They select honorees who have transformed our understanding of the world, impacted our everyday lives, improved our communities and contributed to solutions for a sustainable future.

The early-career award in Global Environmental Change recognizes outstanding contributions in research, educational or societal impacts in this field by honorees within 10 years of receiving their PhD or highest terminal degree. 

"I'm really honored to have received this award. I especially thank my advisors and mentors, Drs. Arun Agrawal, Ruth DeFries, David Lobell and Shahid Naeem, for their unwavering support, and my lab for all of the energy, creativity and hard work they bring to our research program," says Jain. 

Jain joins a distinguished group of scientists, leaders and communicators recognized by AGU for advancing science. Each honoree reflects AGU's vision for a thriving, sustainable and equitable future supported by scientific discovery, innovation and action.

Honorees will be recognized at AGU24, which will convene more than 25,000 attendees from over 100 countries in Washington, D.C. and online in December 2024. 

Read the full announcement from AGU here.