Mark Svoboda, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was elected as an AGU Fellow, joining a distinguished group of 53 individuals in the 2026 Class of Fellows. AGU, the world's largest Earth and space sciences association, bestows this honor annually to a select number of individuals who have made exceptional contributions. Since its inception in 1962, less than 0.1% of AGU members have been selected as Fellows each year.
AGU Fellows are recognized for their scientific eminence, demonstrated through breakthroughs, discoveries or innovations that advance the Earth and space sciences. Fellows act as external experts, advising government agencies and other organizations outside the sciences upon request.
In addition to this recognition, Svoboda is a recipient of the AGU Ambassador Award. The Ambassador Award honors individuals whose achievements extend beyond those recognized by traditional scientific discipline awards. It recognizes outstanding contributions to one or more of the following areas: societal impact, service to the Earth and space community, scientific leadership, and promotion of talent/career pool.
Svoboda was selected for his exemplary leadership and outstanding scientific achievements, which have significantly advanced our understanding of drought monitoring, mitigation and planning, according to nominator Amir AghaKouchak, Chancellor's Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, and director of UC Irvine’s Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing.
“I'm really honored and truly humbled to receive an award like this, which was initiated by my peers and recognized by the AGU Honors Selection Committee and Council Leadership Teams as being worthy for my work and contributions over the years. I specifically want to thank my nominator, Dr. Amir AghaKouchak, and all of those who supported my application as well as the team here at the NDMC and UNL,” Svoboda said. “I couldn't have done it without all of their support in doing work that makes a difference to so many around the world.”
Svoboda, a professor at UNL, has been with the NDMC since the center was established in 1995 and became its third director in 2016. Over the past 30 years, the NDMC has led the ongoing development of the U.S. Drought Monitor, the nation’s go-to resource for assessing the location and intensity of drought in the U.S. NDMC produces it each week in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and NASA.
Svoboda works with nations around the world to implement drought monitoring and early warning systems. He served as a member of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s (UNCCD) Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG I) and Science Policy Interface (SPI) teams, where he co-chaired their drought working groups over two terms. He was also appointed by the U.S. Department of State to be a delegate on the UNCCD’s follow-on IWG II drought team. Svoboda continues to serve as the drought preparedness working group co-leader for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG).
Svoboda is credited with coining the term “flash drought,” is internationally known for his drought monitoring/early warning and risk management work and has been a keynote speaker, principal investigator, consultant, advisory board member or an invited expert for activities with over 80 countries, regions or organizations to date. His work and research in these areas have led to 86 peer-reviewed journal papers and an additional 39 works including book chapters, reports and guidance documents.
Honorees will be recognized at AGU’s 2026 Annual Meeting, AGU26, which will convene more than 25,000 attendees from over 100 countries in San Francisco and online everywhere, Dec. 7-11, 2026. Reflecting the meeting theme “Where Science Connects,” the Honors Ceremony will recognize groundbreaking achievements that illustrate science's continual advancement, inspiring the AGU community with their stories and successes.
