IAG Memorandum of Understanding with the American Geophysical Union
Memorandum of Understanding between
the AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
and the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEOMORPHOLOGISTS
October 2025
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the International Association of Geomorphologists (hereafter “IAG”) and the American Geophysical Union (hereafter “AGU”) (each a “Party’) is valid from the date of the last signature (Effective Date) until 31 December 2027, unless otherwise terminated earlier. The MOU is based on the mutual interest of IAG and AGU in furthering common goals and objectives of the Parties.
A. PARTIES’ RESPONSIBILITIES. Each Party commits to work with the other Party to undertake the following under this MOU:
- Exchange information on key programs and initiatives and explore mutually beneficial opportunities to collaborate (e.g., educational programs, professional services, and student programs).
- Offer the other Party a booth at its primary annual meeting at a rate of at least 50% below the regular exhibit fee per square foot only (excluding furnishing).
- Explore opportunities to co-organize joint research conferences and/or sessions and meetings at each Party’s annual meetings and beyond.
- Where appropriate, disseminate and promote the other Party’s key announcements and scientific and technical meetings on various communications channels (e.g., website, newsletters, etc.) to promote the other Party’s mission and activities.
This collaborative partnership shall not have any financial obligation to either Party.
B. PRINCIPAL CONTACTS. Each Party will name an official point of contact for the relationship. The points of contact will coordinate further connections within each organization. Sunil Kumar De, President, International Association of Geomorphologists, will serve in this role for IAG. Mark Shimamoto, Vice President, Global Outreach and Partnership for AGU. Principal contacts may be changed at any time with notice in writing to the other Party.
C. TERM. This MOU shall take effect on the date the last signature is affixed hereto and shall govern the conduct of the Parties efforts until 31 December 2027, unless terminated earlier by providing at least 30 days’ advance written notice to the other Party.
D. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. The Parties shall not derive any personal profit or gain, directly or indirectly, by reason of their participation.
E. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Each Party will retain ownership of its pre-existing Intellectual Property. Any work that is developed jointly, including work that derives from pre-existing intellectual work owned by either Party, will be available, with joint attribution, to both Parties for noncommercial use. We agree to use the Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA) License or equivalent. This license “lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms.”
F. PUBLICITY & USE OF NAME. Neither Party shall use directly or by implication the names of the other Party or any of the other Party’s affiliates or contractors, nor any abbreviation thereof, in connection with any activities under this MOU without the prior written permission of the other Party, with the exception of general and ongoing acknowledgement of the partnership and use of the logo in materials of each Party that list their Partners.
All requests for additional approvals shall be made to each Party’s Principal Contact. Neither Party shall issue or release any announcement, statement, press release, or other publicity or marketing materials in relation to this MOU or use the other Party’s trademarks, except as expressly permitted under this MOU or with the prior written consent of the other Party.
G. TERMINATION. Either Party may terminate the agreement at any time by providing written notice thirty (30) days in advance of termination.
H. GOVERNING LAW. This MOU will be interpreted under and governed by the laws of the District of Columbia. Judicial proceedings regarding any matter arising under this MOU shall be brought solely in the courts of the District of Columbia.
I. SEVERABILITY. If any portion of this MOU will be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, or enforceability of the remainder of this MOU will not be affected or impaired thereby.
J. NO WAIVER. If either Party does not exercise any right provided for in this MOU, this does not mean that the Party waives the right to exercise it in the future.
K. LEGAL RELATIONSHIP. Nothing in this MOU shall create or be deemed to create a legally binding partnership or to have created the relationship of principal and agent, a membership or any other legal entity between the Parties.
L. FORCE MAJEURE. Neither Party will be liable to the other Party under this MOU for failures of performance resulting from acts or events beyond the reasonable control of such Party, including by way of example and not limitation, acts of nature, civil or military authority, civil disturbance, war and strikes. In such event, each Party will use its best efforts to perform its duties and responsibilities under this MOU. In the event that such force majeure should obstruct the performance of this MOU for more than thirty (30) calendar days, the Parties shall consult with each other to determine whether this MOU should be modified or terminated.
M. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This MOU constitutes and contains the entire agreement among the Parties covering the performance hereof and supersedes any prior oral or written agreements related to the subject matter of this MOU.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused authorized representatives to execute this MOU.