Andy Baker

I am delighted to have been chosen as a lecturer in the American Geophysical Union Distinguished Lecture Series for 2025-2026. Would you like to hear about “Caves and their stalagmites: linking climate to groundwater recharge” in your university, college or education institute?

You can find out more about the series here, and my presentation here. There is a request from here.

I have copied some of the key information from the AGU website below. There is

What is the AGU COF Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) program?

The Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) program is a free lecture series developed by the AGU College of Fellows (COF) to connect AGU Honorees with students and scholars from across the globe through live, virtual or in-person lectures. The lectures provide a high-level synthesis of specific fields for general science audience and focus on grand challenges and societal impacts. These lectures include a question-and-answer session, where attendees can learn more about the lecturer’s expertise and experience. There will also be opportunities for speakers to host meet and greet sessions either before or after the event to more time to connect with students. 

What is the purpose of the DLS program?

The AGU College of Fellows (COF) developed this speaker series to provide students, especially those without access to Earth and space scientists, an opportunity to learn more about topics in geoscience and be inspired by AGU Honorees. These lectures will provide a high-level synthesis of specific fields and will focus on grand challenges and societal impacts. It is also an opportunity to gain insight into potential career paths in the Earth and space sciences.

How do I engage with a speaker?

Community colleges, universities, and other institutions of education are encouraged to request a lecture from one of the speakers, using the request form. Selections will be made based on speaker’s availability. Selections will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

What happens after I submit a lecture request?

We will reach out to notify that your request has been received, and the lecturer(s) has been contacted. We will work with the lecturer and you (the requester), to find the best time for the lecture. Once a time and date are selected for the lecture, we will set up a calendar invite with the Zoom link (if virtual) and send a confirmation email.

How long is the lecture?

Lectures will be approximately 45-60 minutes long with an additional time (about 30-45 minutes) after the lecture to engage with students and attendees via Q&A. Total engagement 1-1.5 hours. 

What is the format of the lecture?

Lectures are hosted virtually (unless agreed otherwise) and are held on a site-specific Zoom session. It is expected that the host institution joins the call a few minutes early to ensure that audio and video is functioning correctly. The engagement will begin with a brief introduction of the lecturer from the host institution, then will be handed to the lecturer to give their lecture. Each lecture will end with a broad-based question-and-answer session where attendees are free to ask questions relating to the topics discussed in the lecture, or about the lecturer’s career experience.

Are the lectures live or pre-recorded?

All lectures are delivered live, not pre-recorded. 

Abstract: Caves and their stalagmites: linking climate to groundwater recharge

Groundwater is a natural resource supporting industry, agriculture and water supply worldwide. It is especially important in drier, water-limited parts of the world, where it can provide a resilient water source in times of drought. Despite this economic importance, we do not know how the replenishment of groundwater (technically known as groundwater recharge) relates to climate phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña. This is increasingly important as we adapt to climate change and associated climate extremes, such as the recent rare occurrence of three consecutive La Niña years. This knowledge gap can be filled by using caves, uniquely situated between the land surface and the groundwater, as observatories of groundwater recharge in the past, present and future. This lecture will explain how we can generate new knowledge by combining the analysis of cave stalagmites to understand when recharge occurred in the past; underground hydrological monitoring today to work out how much rainfall is needed and the associated weather and climate patterns; and climate and hydrological modelling to identify when this replenishment will occur in the future. Using these approaches, we can identify the climate conditions most likely to lead to the rainfall recharge of groundwater, and how this recharge of groundwater will change with future climate change. This new knowledge can be used to help identify where groundwater can be sustainably used for water supply and industrial use in the future and to mitigate the impacts of longer and more intense droughts that are predicted with climate change.