Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
RECOMMENDATIONS
87
ment of future breakthrough science and to provide new pathways for translating scientific knowledge into
societal value. The idea of coordinating multiscale observations resonates both with the types of systemscience questions identified by the survey’s disciplinary panels and with the heliophysics science centers
described in the next section (“Venture”). Examples might include extending “World Day” coordination
of NSF radars to other ground-based and mission data collections, combining data from CubeSat arrays
and larger spacecraft, GPS receiver hosting, development of distributed arrays of ground-based instruments
(potentially funded by an NSF midscale program), and ground-based and space mission solar observational
support for the ATST (see Appendix C).
Recommendation: NASA, NSF, and other agencies should coordinate ground- and space-based solarterrestrial observational and technology programs and expand efforts to take advantage of the synergy
gained by multiscale observations.
Venture: Venture Forward with Science Centers and Instrument and Technology Development
The future of solar and space physics depends on the ability to venture into transformative technologies
and capabilities (Figure 4.5). Development of new and innovative means of pursuing grand challenge science is also critical, taking full advantage of the progress that comes from collaborations between theorists,
modelers, computer scientists, and observers (Box 4.5). In fact, new mechanisms are required to facilitate
development at the frontiers of science and technology.
Grand Challenge Research
The survey committee concluded that a mechanism is needed for bringing together critically sized
teams of observers, theorists, modelers, and computer scientists to address the most challenging problems
in solar and space physics. The scope of theory and modeling investigations supported by the NSF CEDAR,
GEM, and SHINE programs or the NASA Supporting Research and Technology (SR&T), Targeted Research
and Technology (TR&T), and GI programs should be expanded so as to enable deep and transformative
science. The survey committee’s proposed heliophysics science centers would bring scientists together
for significant collaborations to address the most pressing scientific issues of heliophysics. Centers should
consist of multidisciplinary teams with two to three primary institutions that include theorists, modelers,
algorithm developers, and observers. Resources should be focused on the core institutions to avoid spreading the resources too broadly and to achieve a focused investigation of the topic. The centers should be
designed to highlight the exciting science problems of the field, to bolster the interest of faculty at universities, and to attract top students into the field. Success would be measured according to the progress the
centers make in addressing these science problems.
Recommendation: NASA and NSF together should create heliophysics science centers to tackle the key
science problems of solar and space physics that require multidisciplinary teams of theorists, observers,
modelers, and computer scientists, with annual funding in the range of $1 million to $3 million for each
center for 6 years, requiring NASA funds ramping to $8 million per year (plus increases for inflation).
NASA’s Heliophysics Theory Program (HTP) nurtures the formation of small groups of theorists to collaborate intensively on larger targeted projects than are possible using SR&T and TR&T program funding.
The survey committee concluded that the medium-size HTP provides an essential bridge between small
grants and the heliophysics science center grand challenge investigations, which by their very nature will
be limited to a small handful of topics at any given time. The survey committee endorses the continuation
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
RECOMMENDATIONS
87
ment of future breakthrough science and to provide new pathways for translating scientific knowledge into
societal value. The idea of coordinating multiscale observations resonates both with the types of systemscience questions identified by the survey’s disciplinary panels and with the heliophysics science centers
described in the next section (“Venture”). Examples might include extending “World Day” coordination
of NSF radars to other ground-based and mission data collections, combining data from CubeSat arrays
and larger spacecraft, GPS receiver hosting, development of distributed arrays of ground-based instruments
(potentially funded by an NSF midscale program), and ground-based and space mission solar observational
support for the ATST (see Appendix C).
Recommendation: NASA, NSF, and other agencies should coordinate ground- and space-based solarterrestrial observational and technology programs and expand efforts to take advantage of the synergy
gained by multiscale observations.
Venture: Venture Forward with Science Centers and Instrument and Technology Development
The future of solar and space physics depends on the ability to venture into transformative technologies
and capabilities (Figure 4.5). Development of new and innovative means of pursuing grand challenge science is also critical, taking full advantage of the progress that comes from collaborations between theorists,
modelers, computer scientists, and observers (Box 4.5). In fact, new mechanisms are required to facilitate
development at the frontiers of science and technology.
Grand Challenge Research
The survey committee concluded that a mechanism is needed for bringing together critically sized
teams of observers, theorists, modelers, and computer scientists to address the most challenging problems
in solar and space physics. The scope of theory and modeling investigations supported by the NSF CEDAR,
GEM, and SHINE programs or the NASA Supporting Research and Technology (SR&T), Targeted Research
and Technology (TR&T), and GI programs should be expanded so as to enable deep and transformative
science. The survey committee’s proposed heliophysics science centers would bring scientists together
for significant collaborations to address the most pressing scientific issues of heliophysics. Centers should
consist of multidisciplinary teams with two to three primary institutions that include theorists, modelers,
algorithm developers, and observers. Resources should be focused on the core institutions to avoid spreading the resources too broadly and to achieve a focused investigation of the topic. The centers should be
designed to highlight the exciting science problems of the field, to bolster the interest of faculty at universities, and to attract top students into the field. Success would be measured according to the progress the
centers make in addressing these science problems.
Recommendation: NASA and NSF together should create heliophysics science centers to tackle the key
science problems of solar and space physics that require multidisciplinary teams of theorists, observers,
modelers, and computer scientists, with annual funding in the range of $1 million to $3 million for each
center for 6 years, requiring NASA funds ramping to $8 million per year (plus increases for inflation).
NASA’s Heliophysics Theory Program (HTP) nurtures the formation of small groups of theorists to collaborate intensively on larger targeted projects than are possible using SR&T and TR&T program funding.
The survey committee concluded that the medium-size HTP provides an essential bridge between small
grants and the heliophysics science center grand challenge investigations, which by their very nature will
be limited to a small handful of topics at any given time. The survey committee endorses the continuation