Kathryn Semmens

The ongoing transformation of scholarly publishing has created new challenges for authors, reviewers, and editors in deciding which journals to engage with. As Editors in Chief of AGU Publications, we meet annually to reflect on the evolving editorial landscape, consider opportunities for improvement, and reach consensus on policies, priorities and responsibilities guiding AGU Publications. Here, we argue that publishing with AGU goes beyond the paper. It advances a set of shared, interconnected scientific purposes grounded in community stewardship, editorial independence, rigorous peer review, openness, equity, global participation, and long‐term scientific impact. As a not‐for‐profit global scientific society, AGU publication revenues are reinvested in science, education, professional development, and community engagement. Choosing where to publish is ultimately a choice about the scientific values, institutions, and communities we seek to sustain.

Visualizing and communicating flood inundation depth and extent can be valuable for informing decisions related to flood preparedness and disaster response. In the United States, several different types of flood inundation mapping (FIM) exist and a new National Water Model (NWM) FIM product is being rolled out across the country (expected to be fully deployed by the end of 2026). A mixed‐methods social science research study investigated how select FIM products are used for decision support, what barriers exist to using their information, and what improvements to design and delivery could improve their usefulness. Professional and residential participants in scenario‐based focus groups and surveys in the Mid‐Atlantic and West Gulf River Forecast Center regions provided feedback on FIM use and design that was incorporated into redesigned versions. These revised FIM products were tested in a follow‐up online survey with professionals gathering more detailed feedback on what elements of the maps and design were most helpful for their needs. Many of the proposed changes were reviewed positively, including color transparency, localization (labeling/geographic context), delineation of the ordinary high‐water channel, and inclusion of critical infrastructure and evacuation routes. Findings also describe user needs for FIM products to offer historical context, probabilistic information, and mobile accessibility. Overall, the study highlights the value of flood inundation mapping to decision‐making and the desire for this type of information for both professional and public audiences and provides actionable design‐related recommendations to improve the usefulness and accessibility of these products.

Key Points: The editors thank the 2025 peer reviewers!

Community Science is an experiment. The premise is that centering on a broad range of disciplinary, and interdisciplinary, science called for, created, and conducted by teams of place‐based community residents and professional scientists will positively push the boundaries of what we understand as science, from discoveries to solutions. In this pursuit, we define science broadly: natural science, both physical and living; social science; health science; and ingrained ways of knowing that have been emerging and evolving since time immemorial within Indigenous cultures. Community is similarly a term that signifies a wide range of publics engaged in a myriad of ways; from those who may engage in only a single activity, to those who are formative to the work, including those who span the boundaries between the worlds describing community and science. Just as we seek those on the creative edge as authors, we depend on those with deep experience in both the scientific discipline and the community, whatever form it may take, to serve as peer reviewers. Part of our publication experiment is to step back and ask the questions: who are “peers?” Can we expand the approachability and usefulness of published work beyond traditional scientific professionalism and disciplinary boundaries through thoughtful selection of reviewers who are more, and perhaps different, than the degree‐credentialed professionals journal editors have traditionally turned to? And will these peers and near‐peers have the ability to set aside time from their own work to bring community science to the forefront and participate in patient, positive, thoughtful reviews?

The editors of the Community Science Exchange want to say a big thank you to the 29 reviewers for reviewing for Community Science in 2023. Peer‐review is essential to the process of doing and publishing scientific findings, and will be a pillar of our successful expansion of science by, with and for communities into mainstream science. Many papers start with an inquiry, allowing us to assist prospective authors in inclusion of community voice. These consultations also allow us to respect reviewers' time as we only send papers for review that meet our criteria.

Resilience, specifically community resilience, has a range of definitions but several core elements, including social cohesion and collaboration. Importantly, community‐driven goals and approaches tend to be more effective. The CREATE Resilience project centered on co‐creating a community vision of resilience, specifically as it relates to natural hazards and climate change by focusing on a positive narrative. By engaging youth, artists, municipal officials and community members in a variety of activities, including surveys, story‐gathering and photovoice exhibits, forums, artist‐created murals, and ripple effect mapping (REM), the project increased knowledge of weather and climate, risks from local hazards, and strategies for mitigation, while leading the community in thinking about what resilience means. This article describes the project, its use of science, art, and community to co‐create a vision of resilience for three communities, the components of engagement and their intent, and the evaluation of impact for participants. As determined through surveys and REM, the CREATE project was effective due to the mixture of art, science and community engagement, which provided a range of opportunities for personal connection and learning related to the science and priorities around hazards and mitigation, helping participants with meaning‐making about local hazards and assets, and allowing for a sense of familiarity and interconnectedness. Creating a shared vision of resilience is an effort that engages, connects, and motivates a community around common values and goals, and the approaches implemented through the CREATE project may offer ideas other communities can adopt in efforts to improve resilience.

Key Points: The editors thank the 2022 peer reviewers