Congratulations to Dr. Anna Trugman on Receiving the 2025 James B. Macelwane Medal!
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Anna Trugman, Principal Investigator at the Marine Science Institute and Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at UC Santa Barbara, on being awarded the prestigious 2025 James B. Macelwane Medal by the American Geophysical Union (AGU). This medal, the AGU’s highest honor for early-career scientists, recognizes her groundbreaking contributions to Earth and environmental sciences and marks her induction into the AGU College of Fellows.
Dr. Trugman’s research is transforming our understanding of how terrestrial ecosystems—especially forests—respond to climate change and elevated CO₂ levels. By combining in-situ plant physiological data, ecological theory, and large-scale numerical models, her work sheds light on the resilience and vulnerability of ecosystems across scales, from individual trees to the global carbon cycle.
Her collaborations with institutions such as the National Park Service have already had a tangible impact, guiding adaptive management strategies for iconic ecosystems like California’s giant sequoia groves.
This award reflects not only Dr. Trugman’s visionary leadership in environmental science, but also the dedication of her lab group and the strength of her many interdisciplinary collaborations. Her work exemplifies the innovative, data-driven research that is essential for tackling the climate crisis and informing sustainable policy.
Congratulations again to Dr. Trugman on this remarkable and well-deserved recognition.
Original reporting by Harrison Tasoff, "Two UCSB professors recognized for contributions to the Earth sciences", The Current, UC Santa Barbara, 2025
The James B. Macelwane Medal is given annually to three to five early career scientists in recognition of their significant contributions to Earth and space science. Nominees are selected for the medal based on their depth and breadth of research, impact, creativity as well as service, outreach, and diversity.
The Macelwane Medal was named in honor of former AGU president James B. Macelwane (1953-1956) who was renowned for his contributions to geophysics. Macelwane was also deeply interested in teaching and encouraging scientists, founding the Department of Geophysics at St. Louis University and serving as Dean of the Graduate School, along with various other roles, all while always committing to teach at least one course.