The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has introduced a new special collection across seven of its journals to encourage submissions of policy‑related commentaries and research articles. The initiative is intended to strengthen the connection between scientific research and policy decision‑making.
AGU noted that while its journals are already widely cited in scientific disciplines, there is a growing need to expand their influence in policy contexts. The organization emphasized that citations of academic papers in policy documents remain limited, particularly in the physical sciences, and highlighted the importance of ensuring that scientific evidence informs decision‑making.
The special collection will be hosted in AGU Advances, Earth’s Future, GeoHealth, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, JGR: Biogeosciences, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, and Space Weather. Submissions may include commentaries on emerging policy issues, research articles with societal implications, and evaluative work directly connected to Earth, space, and environmental sciences. Each journal has provided specific guidance for contributors.
AGU explained that the collection is designed to address policy‑related challenges at both global and national levels. It aims to support dialogue between researchers and decision‑makers, particularly in regions where access to scientific and policy‑related research is limited. The organization also pointed to recent shifts in the U.S. political landscape as evidence of the need to preserve evidence‑based research for informed policy decisions.
This initiative complements AGU’s broader science policy efforts, including the Impactful Datasets in Earth, Space, and Environmental Sciences collection and the U.S. Climate Collection developed in partnership with the American Meteorological Society. AGU stated that it remains committed to supporting science and society through its publications and programs, and expressed its intention to continue collaborating with members on policy‑related research.
Click here to read the original press release.
