Supported by the Julia R. Brown Education and Research Award, PhD student Nick Cirrito attended the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting to showcase his Scripps PhD work on coastal processes and flood dynamics. In this post, Nick shows how this conference gave him valuable feedback, exposure to cutting‑edge Earth science research, and new professional connections across academia and industry — and how seeing the vibrant resilience efforts in New Orleans reinforced his commitment to climate adaptation research and left him hopeful about future collaborations.
During the week of December 15, I had the opportunity to attend the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2025 in New Orleans. This was my first time attending a large scientific conference, and it was both exciting and a little overwhelming to walk into a space with over 20,000 scientists from around the world. It was incredible to see the range of research being done across so many different fields and to be surrounded by people who are deeply invested in understanding and solving complex Earth and climate problems.
The main goal of attending AGU was to present and share the research I have been working on over the past year as a PhD student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Having the chance to talk about my work, receive feedback, and hear how others are approaching similar problems was extremely valuable. I also spent a lot of time attending talks and poster sessions related to coastal processes, oceanography, flooding, and climate impacts, which helped me better understand where my research fits within the broader scientific community.
AGU was also a great opportunity for professional development. I was able to connect with other graduate students, professors, researchers, and industry professionals, and have conversations about research, career paths, and future opportunities. Being able to have meaningful discussions with experts whose papers I have read over the years was especially rewarding. As a student, it was really motivating to see the different directions people take after graduate school and to learn about the tools and methods being used across institutions.
One of the most striking parts of the experience was seeing how deeply people care about their research and the impact it can have. Being surrounded by so many passionate scientists was inspiring and made the scale of collaboration in climate and Earth science feel very real. Visiting New Orleans was also a memorable part of the experience. Given my interests in coastal flooding, it was fascinating to see the coastal engineering efforts used to protect the city, such as the levee system. It was also amazing to experience such a resilient city full of vibrancy and character. As sea levels continue to rise, learning from past projects will be critical for developing feasible solutions to protect coastal communities.
Overall, attending AGU reminded me how fortunate I am to be a graduate student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and to work with cutting edge technology and supportive mentors. This experience increased my confidence as an early career researcher and reinforced my interest in continuing research that improves our understanding of coastal processes and supports climate resilience and adaptation. I am very grateful to be a recipient of the Julia R. Brown Education and Research Award, as it made it possible for me to attend AGU and grow both my knowledge and professional network. I left the conference feeling hopeful and inspired to continue my research and contribute to solving these complex challenges.
Blog content and images provided by Nick Cirrito – thank you!
Ashton Domi also presented his research at the (AGU) 2025 Fall Meeting in New Orleans. Read about Ashton’s experience here.